Historically in Craiova’s corner
The odds makers rate the visitors Universitatea Craiova as favourites for Saturday’s game and on recent history, they certainly have good reason to do so. UC have won each of the previous three Liga 1 matches against FC UTA Arad, which include a 2-1 away victory over this opponent just seven months ago.
The two clubs are set to begin their 2025-2026 Liga I campaigns on zero points apiece, with UTA in 14th place and Craiova in 16th based on preliminary standings. In truth, there’s not much history between these two sides but the recent record between the pair has given the fixture extra edge, and both clubs should be desperate to start the campaign with a win. This sets the stage for our FC UTA Arad vs Universitatea Craiova prediction, considering both teams' desire for a strong start.
Craiova are on the front foot
It’s not the longest trip in Romania, but there are miles between these sides when it comes to their footballing philosophy. Adrian Mihalcea has been at the helm of UTA since June 2025 and he has built his team to be a block, while Mirel Radoi has instilled a front-foot mentality and a more fluid structure on his Craiova side since January 2025.
UTA are more likely to play a rigid defensive shape, be compact and look to hit on the break. On paper at least, it is a system that should suit Daniel Zsori who will again be UTA’s main striker. The FC UTA Arad vs Universitatea Craiova odds point towards Craiova's attacking setup prevailing, but Zsori has been a ray of light for UTA in recent weeks and has two of their five league goals.
Mitrita can make all the difference
Craiova will look to dominate possession and get their forwards on the ball with regularity. That’s exactly what they’ve been doing since Radoi’s arrival and it is why this team have started to find goals again, scoring six across their last five games.
The person firing them in has been Alexandru Mitrita, who has bagged four of those and two-thirds of their total league tally. He is on a purple patch right now and he could be a big difference-maker for UC on Saturday.
Our FC UTA Arad vs Universitatea Craiova prediction is that Mitrita’s form could once again prove decisive in a tightly-contested match.
According to the FC UTA Arad vs Universitatea Craiova betting tips, backing Craiova for a narrow win could be worthwhile after winning each of the past three games against UTA. Mihalcea’s team aren’t as solid as they like to be and haven’t won any of their last four home fixtures against Craiova, so there is enough evidence to back Craiova for a narrow win, while a bet on both teams to score also has merit given the nature of the games between these clubs of late.
For a comprehensive look at the matchup, the FC UTA Arad vs Universitatea Craiova preview highlights key tactical approaches and individual performances that could shape the result.
