- Craiova have won 5 of their last 7 home matches in all competitions, losing once and drawing once.
- Ararat-Armenia have won 6 of their last 10 matches, but have lost 4.
- Ararat-Armenia have scored 7 goals in their last 4 away matches.
Craiova can cut the tie
There is nothing to really split these two sides on paper, so this Universitatea Craiova vs FC Ararat-Armenia prediction suggests it may be worth siding with the odds-on favorite Universitatea Craiova to edge the tie in the first leg of their Europa League Qualification tussle against FC Ararat-Armenia on Thursday, and this Universitatea Craiova vs FC Ararat-Armenia preview points to a tight contest.
Universitatea Craiova are 1.45, which is a little too short for us, but the Armenian champions are 7.1, which is also a little short for a team that have lost 4 of their last 10 in all competitions. We're happy to stay on the sidelines in this one and suggest you do the same unless you can get a good price on the home side.
Craiova are in decent form with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat from their last 5 in all competitions, including a 2-1 win away at KuPS and a 0-1 home defeat to FC Arges. Their home record is 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from 7 matches, so they do control the action on their own patch most of the time.
Ararat-Armenia have enough punch to keep it close
Filipe Coelho has given them a tactical flexibility with the ability to play a back three and press high up the field or to sit in a 4-3-3 and attack vertically. That's what makes them a tough team to play against and it's why they have averaged 2.71 goals scored and 1.14 goals conceded at home in all competitions this season.
They have some real weapons in attack, such as the in-form Carlos Mora who has 1 goal in 2 UEFA Europa League Qualification appearances and 3 assists in the club's last 5, while Steven Nsimba has 3 goals in that run as they have scored 9 times in total.
Ararat-Armenia are also in decent shape with 3 wins from their last 5, although the 2-0 defeat away at NK Celje was a disappointment. Tulipa has moulded them into a compact, energetic unit that likes structured buildup and combinations from a back-four base.
BTTS-Yes a good bet for this European tie
The contrast in styles will be fascinating and could determine the pace of the game with Ararat-Armenia looking to counterattack and Craiova wanting to transition. Over 2.5 goals is available at 1.6, but that's a shade too short for our liking and the BTTS-Yes at 1.7 makes more sense in what should be an lively European tie, according to our Universitatea Craiova vs FC Ararat-Armenia prediction.
The home team should edge it, but the price for the win is odds-on and the BTTS numbers suggest that the visitors have enough to keep the game close for spells. Our Universitatea Craiova vs FC Ararat-Armenia betting tips lean toward goals at both ends.
