- Craiova are the hotter team in all competitions, winning 8 of their last 10 (2 draws) and going 6 without a defeat on the road (4 wins, 2 draws).
- Levski have a solid recent record of 4 wins in 5 matches, with only 1 setback (all competitions).
- Levski are the favourites for the 1st leg at 2.3, but Craiova are good value at 3.25.
Two decent teams meeting
PFC Levski Sofia are the slight favourites ahead of Thursday's UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 clash with Universitatea Craiova, but the visitors are a good value bet to snatch a positive result in this 1st leg. The Draw, priced the same as the away side at 3.25, could also be a profitable way to play.
Julio Velazquez's Levski will set up to try to pinch the ball from this matchup early and they are more than capable of taking the game to Craiova. They're a front-foot team with some nice attacking players who can hurt this opponent on the break.
Armstrong Oko-Flex has been the maestro for Levski, as he is their top scorer in UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 with 2 goals in 2 games, while Everton Bala has 3 assists in the last 5. Juan Perea has been a livewire for them too with 3 of their 8 goals in that same run.
Stalemate likely in Sofia
Filipe Coelho's Craiova are a 3-at-the-back team who are extremely well organised and have plenty of bite in the forward areas via their wingbacks. Assad Al Hamlawi is the danger man for the Romanian outfit, as he has 2 goals in 2 UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 games so far and is their leading scorer overall with 4 of their 11 in the last 5.
There is a nice contrast between these two sides and a spicy tactical battle should unfold on Thursday. Levski will try to force Craiova into playing through the middle, and the visitors will try to exploit Levski's width and nick the second balls. A tight, tense European matchup seems the likely outcome and the Under 2.5 line at 1.62 and Both Teams to Score - No at 1.8 look like the value bets here. The best bet on the correct score market is for a 1-0 Levski edge, but a 0-0 draw is also likely in what will probably be a cagey affair.
