KuPS enter this qualifier with patchy recent form, losing three of their last four overall and both of their home-side matches, conceding five goals in the process. Universitatea Craiova have been far more consistent, winning two and losing just one of their last four, and they…
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Sign inFinnish side KuPS host Romanian outfit Universitatea Craiova at their Väre Areena home in Kuopio on Thursday, 6 August 2026 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. It is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, with a place in the playoff round at stake.
KuPS have a clean bill of health heading into this first leg. No players are suspended or injured, giving the home side a full squad to choose from for one of the biggest European nights in their recent history.
Universitatea Craiova, however, will be without Mihnea Radulescu. The defender is the Romanian side's only confirmed absentee through injury. Manager Constantin Coelho rotated several key players during a heavy domestic defeat to Dinamo Bucuresti last weekend – a match in which his team was reduced to 10 men – and is expected to restore first-team regulars such as Stefan Baiaram to the starting lineup for this European tie.
KuPS arrive in the third qualifying round after being eliminated from UEFA Champions League qualifying, dropping into the Europa League pathway. Their most recent European outing ended in a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Sabah FC, who won the second leg 2-0. That result ended their hopes of reaching the Champions League playoff round but secured them a shot at Europa League progression. Domestically, KuPS have been a consistent force in the Finnish Veikkausliiga, though their specific recent league form was not disclosed in the sources available ahead of this tie.
Craiova come into this fixture as Romanian champions, a status that originally placed them in the Champions League qualifiers. Victory in their previous round would have guaranteed at least a Europa League group stage place regardless of further results, according to UEFA's access list. Instead, defeat in their last European outing dropped them into this Europa League third qualifying round. Domestically, they suffered a 5-1 loss to Dinamo Bucuresti last weekend, though that result came with heavy rotation and a first-half red card. Prior to that, their first-team regulars had shown resilience, with players such as Simon Elisor pushing for starts.
With Coelho expected to recall his main attacking threats after the weekend's rotated lineup, KuPS' backline faces an examination from a side that carries genuine pedigree as Romanian champions. Baiaram, likely to start, will be a focal point, while Elisor is also pushing for inclusion after featuring in Craiova's first-leg European clash earlier in qualifying. KuPS conceded twice in their second-leg defeat to Sabah, and tightening up against a technically proficient Craiova forward line will be essential if they are to take a positive result into the return leg.
The second leg takes place in Romania on 13 August, with the aggregate winner advancing to the Europa League playoff round – one tie away from the competition's league phase. For KuPS, a strong home performance in front of their own fans at Väre Areena is imperative before they travel to Craiova next week.
KuPS
Coach: Miika Nuutinen
Universitatea Craiova
Coach: Filipe Coelho
