- Form and head-to-head: Craiova are the in-form side in this matchup, winning 3 of their last 5 games (D2). UTA Arad are in decent form too, winning 2 and drawing 1 of their last 3 matches (L0). UTA Arad beat Craiova 2-1 away in Liga I 2025/2026 but Craiova have not beaten them in their 2 previous matchups with UTA. Craiova average 2.5 goals per-game against UTA in 5 head-to-head home matches, UTA average 2.0 goals on the road against Craiova.
A game of two paces to play
Universitatea Craiova and FC UTA Arad will do battle at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, Romania, on Saturday in what is a classic possession versus counter matchup. Filipe Coelho's men have been playing on the front foot this season, their shape flexible in terms of 3-4-3 or 4-3-3, but their approach has always been possession-based with players who can run at defences and counter-press to cause damage in transition.
Craiova are in red-hot form at the moment, winning 3 and drawing 2 of their last 5 domestic games and 7, 2 and 1 across all competitions. In their most recent 10, Craiova have only lost 1, and in that sequence, they've won 7 and drawn 2. Craiova are the clear 1.73 favorites for this matchup, but we're avoiding them here and taking the tie at 3.52 because UTA come into the matchup with 4.72 odds and we believe they will make a tough game of this.
UTA will be compact and stingy
Tactical approach:
Adrian Mihalcea has his UTA men set up compact and pragmatic, usually in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 shape that protects the middle and looks to counter quickly.
Recent form:
UTA are also in decent nick, winning 2 and drawing 1 of their last 3 matchups, and also winning 5, drawing 3 and losing just 2.
UTA's last 3 results are particularly notable, 1-1 away to Petrolul, 1-0 at home to Csikszereda and a 1-0 away win at Unirea Slobozia, and their latest performances have been against good opponents, so it appears this side knows how to grind out results. Across all competitions, UTA are 1-2-2 on the road, which looks reasonable on the surface.
Take the tie in this lively matchup
Craiova will come into this game as the favorites and rightly so, as they are the in-form team and have a real goal threat in the shape of Assad Al Hamlawi, who has scored 4 of Craiova's 9 goals across the last 5 matches.
Over 2.5 goals at 1.98 and Both Teams to Score at 1.88 are simply too short here, so we're going for a tie in what we think will be a lively game. Craiova's overloading of the flanks should be a factor if they can break UTA down, but Mihalcea's side are solid at the back and could nick this.
- However, UTA are a decent side who have a very good record against Craiova and we think they can get something here.
- Craiova are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season, winning 3 from 3, and have scored 8 goals in their last 3 at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco.
