Ararat-Armenia vs Universitatea Craiova — UEFA Europa League: stats, lineups & analysis
Match Events
- 48′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Foul
- 62′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 70′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 72′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 77′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 77′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 80′Ararat-Armenia, yellow card:Foul
- 89′Universitatea Craiova, substitution:off
- 90′Ararat-Armenia, goal:1–0
- 90+2′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 90+2′Ararat-Armenia, substitution:off
- 90+3′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Unsportsmanlike conduct
- 90+7′Universitatea Craiova, yellow card:Unsportsmanlike conduct
- 90+8′Ararat-Armenia, missed penalty:Missed penalty
- 90+9′Ararat-Armenia, yellow card:Foul
- 90+10′Ararat-Armenia, yellow card:Unsportsmanlike conduct
- Full-time1 – 0
Lineups
Starting lineups
Formation or player positions unavailable or inconsistent.
Ararat-Armenia
4-3-3
Universitatea Craiova
3-4-3
Key Stats
Top Performers
Goal
Match report
Sandro Lima's stoppage-time strike sinks Universitatea Craiova
Ararat-Armenia edged Universitatea Craiova 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League play-offs at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, with the only goal arriving deep into stoppage time. The match was goalless at half-time, and it looked destined for a stalemate until the very end.
AI-assisted match report written from official match data.
Sandro Lima settled the contest in the eighth minute of second-half added time, turning the scoreline from 0-0 to 1-0 for the home side. It proved the decisive moment in a tie that had offered little in the way of clear-cut chances before then.
Craiova had the greater share of possession, holding 54% of the ball against Ararat-Armenia's 46%, and produced two shots on target compared to none for the hosts. Ararat-Armenia, however, won three fewer corners than their opponents while conceding one more foul, yet found the breakthrough that mattered most.
Sandro Lima scored the only goal of the match, netting in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to give Ararat-Armenia victory.
Despite managing no shots on target, Ararat-Armenia converted their sole clear opportunity to overturn Universitatea Craiova, who had two shots on target but could not find the net.
Ararat-Armenia beat Universitatea Craiova 1–0 (half-time 0–0).
Ararat-Armenia met Universitatea Craiova in the UEFA Europa League (Play-offs). Kick-off was Thursday, 27 August 2026, 16:00 UTC at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. Referee: Donatas Rumsas.
Team pages: Ararat-Armenia · Universitatea Craiova · UEFA Europa League
Key moments
- 90' Goal: Sandro Lima — 1–0
Starting line-ups
Ararat-Armenia (4-3-3)
Universitatea Craiova (3-4-3)
Sirius · Why these numbers
Before kick-off Sirius gave Ararat-Armenia 27%, the draw 21%, Universitatea Craiova 52%. It finished Ararat-Armenia 1–0 Universitatea Craiova.
Universitatea Craiova's rating gap outweighs Ararat-Armenia's home ground — Universitatea Craiova are clearly the stronger side on our strength rating, and that is most of Universitatea Craiova's 52%. The draw at 21% is trimmed by a league that produces few draws.
Why Universitatea Craiova at 52%?
Universitatea Craiova sit 200 points higher on our strength rating — 1372 to 1572. Sides with a 200–300-point rating edge on the road won 52.0% of 6,044 such games. The 300 most similar past games finished 28–25–47.
Why only 52%?
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 4,426 games vs 44.9% across all 99,396 — outside the noise band, so the tally moves accordingly.
Why is the draw only 21%?
With a rating gap this size the draw starts at 24.0%. These teams' recent games average 2.8 goals — a typical goals environment. Games in that environment drew 24.6% of 24,882. UEFA Europa League produces fewer draws than most, taking 2.1 points off.
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 Ararat-Armenia vs Universitatea Craiova final score and result, 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.
The full match report above covers the goals, key moments and stats. Explore more on the Ararat-Armenia and Universitatea Craiova team pages or the UEFA Europa League page.