Univ. Craiova – KuPS Preview – Who settles the tie in Craiova?
Univ. Craiova and KuPS have never met competitively before, and their first crack at each other has turned into one of the more interesting Europa League qualifying ties on the board. If you’re weighing up Univ. Craiova vs KuPS betting tips this week, know that this one is genuinely up for grabs: the first leg finished level, and the second leg at the Ion Oblemenco Stadium decides who advances. Kick-off is set for 13 August 2026, 14:00 GMT.
Craiova had the better of the opening spell in Kuopio, Stefan Baiaram poking them ahead before half-time, only for KuPS to drag the tie back level before the whistle. Neither side carries an away-goals cushion into the second leg, so this is a straight shootout: whoever scores more over the game goes through, with extra time and penalties there if it’s still level.
There’s no real favourite on paper. Craiova arrive on some of their best domestic form of the season, KuPS travel as leaders of Finland’s Veikkausliiga, and neither has looked remotely overawed by the other. If anything nudges it towards the hosts, it’s the pitch they know and a defence about to get its most important man back.
Univ. Craiova – KuPS Betting Tips
Betting Tip: Univ. Craiova to win
Playing the decider at home, with Badelj back marshalling the defence and the team arriving in some of the best form they’ve shown domestically this season (a routine win over Petrolul among the highlights), Craiova look the side better equipped to find the breakthrough. KuPS are well organised and will make it hard, but the crowd and a settled back four should be enough to get Craiova over the line.
Betting Tip: Both teams to score
Both sides found the net in Kuopio, and nothing about this second leg suggests either defence is about to shut up shop. Craiova will look to press and force it early at home, which tends to open space in behind, while KuPS travel with nothing to lose and have already shown they can score against this opponent. Back both teams to find the net again, and check the latest match odds before kick-off, prices tend to move as team news firms up.
Badelj’s return outweighs the injury list
Craiova will be without Pavlo Isenko and Alexandru Iamandache, both knee injuries, plus Mihnea Radulescu. That’s a dent to squad depth, but the bigger story is who comes back in: Juraj Badelj returns from suspension for this second leg, and a settled centre-back pairing changes how Craiova can defend a lead or chase a winner. Anyone who read our preview of the first leg in Kuopio will remember how much that early Baiaram goal shaped the tie before KuPS responded. KuPS, by contrast, have no fresh fitness concerns and can pick from a full squad, which says plenty about how well they’ve managed a congested summer.
What’s waiting for the winner
Whoever goes through plays for a spot in the Europa League play-off round, against either Ararat-Armenia or Celje, so there’s a genuine prize riding on this before either side even thinks about who’s next. For Craiova, roared on by their own crowd and riding a strong run domestically, that’s motivation enough. For KuPS, it’s a chance to prove their league form travels. Team sheets will tell the rest closer to kick-off.
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