Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia — UEFA Europa League: stats, lineups & analysis
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play_arrow2 clips- 20′Ararat-Armenia, goal:0–1assist
- 33′Universitatea Craiova, goal:1–1assist
- 39′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Roughing
- Half-time1 – 1
- 47′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Roughing
- 62′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 62′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 69′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Roughing
- 69′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 69′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 75′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 78′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Roughing
- 80′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 80′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 80′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 85′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 85′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- Full-time1 – 1
Lineups
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Key Stats
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Goals
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Videos
Match report
Craiova and Ararat-Armenia share the points in Europa League play-off first leg
Universitatea Craiova and Ararat-Armenia drew 1-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco. Both goals arrived inside the opening half-hour, leaving the sides level heading into the second leg.
AI-assisted match report written from official match data.
Alexandros Malis put the visitors ahead in the 20th minute, converting after being set up by Hugo Oliveira. Craiova responded within thirteen minutes as Nicusor Bancu levelled matters, finishing off a chance created by Alexandru Cicaldau, and the score stood at 1-1 by half-time and remained that way through to the final whistle.
The home side dominated territorially in the second half without adding to the scoreline, racking up eight corners to Ararat-Armenia's four and seven shots on target compared to the visitors' two. Craiova also picked up four yellow cards to their opponents' none, with referee Nick Walsh booking players from the home side throughout an increasingly stretched contest.
Craiova doubled up their opponents on shots on target, seven to two, yet could not turn that pressure into a winning goal.
Universitatea Craiova and Ararat-Armenia drew 1–1 (half-time 1–1).
Universitatea Craiova met Ararat-Armenia in the UEFA Europa League (Play-offs). Kick-off was Thursday, 20 August 2026, 17:00 UTC at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco. Referee: Nick Walsh.
Team pages: Universitatea Craiova · Ararat-Armenia · UEFA Europa League
Key moments
- 20' Goal: Alexandros Malis (assist: Hugo Oliveira) — 0–1 · Watch Alexandros Malis's goal video (20')
- 33' Goal: Nicușor Bancu (assist: Alexandru Cicâldău) — 1–1 · Watch Nicușor Bancu's goal video (33')
Starting line-ups
Universitatea Craiova (3-4-3)
Ararat-Armenia (4-3-3)
Sirius · Why these numbers
Before kick-off Sirius gave Universitatea Craiova 69%, the draw 18%, Ararat-Armenia 13%. It finished Universitatea Craiova 1–1 Ararat-Armenia.
Universitatea Craiova's rating gap decides it — Universitatea Craiova are clearly the stronger side on our strength rating, and UEFA Europa League home advantage on top gives Universitatea Craiova a clear lead. The draw at 18% is trimmed by a league that produces few draws.
Why Universitatea Craiova at 69%?
Universitatea Craiova sit 200 points higher on our strength rating — 1572 to 1372. Sides with a 200–300-point rating edge at home won 67.0% of 5,941 such games. UEFA Europa League home sides out-perform the global norm — and the difference mostly flows to draws (22.8% vs 24.9% norm). UEFA Europa League homes won 47.5% of 4,414 games vs 44.9% across all 99,157 — outside the noise band, so the tally moves accordingly. The 300 most similar past games finished 60–20–20.
Why only 69%?
No scored evidence points the other way. 69% is what this rating gap has been worth in games like these; the rest is the draw at 18% and Ararat-Armenia at 13%.
Why is the draw only 18%?
With a rating gap this size the draw starts at 19.6%. These teams' recent games average 2.7 goals — a typical goals environment. Games in that environment drew 26.2% of 27,595. UEFA Europa League produces fewer draws than most, taking 2.1 points off.
What did we measure but not count?
Ararat-Armenia average 7 points more possession, but the rating gap here is 200 points. Our control receipt only exists between near-equals — there it moved results; across a class gap we could not measure a separate style edge, so style scores 0 here.
Sirius probabilities, frozen at kick-off. Analysis, not betting advice. How Sirius is doing this season · Full breakdown, evidence cards and squad news in the Match Insights tab
About this match
On this page: the Universitatea Craiova vs Ararat-Armenia final score and result, goal highlights and video clips of every goal, who scored, starting lineups, match stats and the full match report from this UEFA Europa League fixture.
- Who scored and when — a goal-by-goal timeline of the match.
- Match stats — possession, shots, expected goals (xG), corners and cards.
- Starting lineups and player ratings for both teams.
- Head-to-head record and recent form for both sides.
- Watch Alexandros Malis's goal against Universitatea Craiova (20').
- Watch Nicușor Bancu's goal against Ararat-Armenia (33').
Watch the goals: goal highlights and video clips of every goal from Universitatea Craiova 1–1 Ararat-Armenia. Explore more on the Universitatea Craiova and Ararat-Armenia team pages or the UEFA Europa League page.