- In their 4 recent matches, Universitatea Craiova (Craiova) have recorded 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses.
- In all competitions, Craiova have the better recent record with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats from 5, while KuPS have 2 wins and 3 defeats from their last 5.
- KuPS are slightly better than Craiova in home matches this season, with 2 wins and 2 losses from 4, scoring 2.25 and conceding 2.25 goals per game.
Craiova likely to edge a close contest
Craiova are the slight favorites at 2.1 for their UEFA Europa League qualification opener in Finland on Thursday against KuPS, who are 3.4, with the tie odds coming in at 3.35. However, the oddsmakers have got this one wrong in our opinion as the game will probably be a close and tense contest that the Romanian visitors are most likely to squeeze through, and our KuPS Palloseura vs Universitatea Craiova prediction is for a narrow away win.
Craiova come into this on the back of a 5-1 away defeat to FC Dinamo Bucuresti in Liga I 2026/2027, but they did bounce back nicely in their next outing with a 2-2 draw against Levski Sofia in UEFA Champions League qualification.
KuPS also head into the game with inconsistent recent form, registering 2 wins and 3 losses in their last 5 matches. They beat VPS 3-1 at home in their latest match, but they had previously lost to Sabah FK in the UEFA Champions League qualification process.
Tactical clash should be interesting
These two teams have different, but contrasting, approaches to the matchup. Under the guidance of Filipe Coelho since 11 November 2025, Craiova have played a much more proactive 4-3-3, with high full-backs and the team pressing up in all areas to try and win the ball high up the field.
Miika Nuutinen has been KuPS boss since 1 January 2026 and he has kept a more conservative, possession-based structure that requires his side to be patient at times but can also burst into the space behind the opposition full-backs.
This tactical mismatch could be interesting to watch and we expect Craiova will stretch the field and win the match by trying to force a few turnovers. But KuPS will be just as happy to sit compact and hit their opponents in behind, so a cagey game is also possible.
As such, we're going for a Craiova edge in what is likely to be a very close contest. The betting also seems to suggest that the teams are well matched, with both markets for Under 2.5 goals (1.82) and Both Teams To Score - No (1.98) sitting just below even money, and the KuPS-Craiova betting tips point in the same direction.
KuPS have been shaky on their own patch
KuPS have been somewhat inconsistent at home this season, posting 2 wins and 2 losses from 4 in all competitions. They have also failed to win 2 of their last 3 at their own stadiums, which suggests they are a team that can be got at if Craiova turn up the intensity on Thursday.
Craiova's record on the road in all competitions is 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses from 4, but they score 1.25 and concede 1.75 goals per away match on average, so we are expecting a fine-margin contest. Our Craiova preview therefore points to a tight and competitive night.
Craiova have the best recent record of the two teams, but neither side has been totally convincing of late. Across their last 10 in all competitions, Universitatea Craiova have 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses while KuPS have 6, 1 and 3 in the same order. But Craiova have been the most consistent of the pair and that is why they are most likely to come out on top.
Jaime Moreno has been the spark in the KuPS attack, scoring 2 of their 6 goals in the last 5 matches, so he will be a good choice for an anytime scorer bet on Thursday.
