Ararat-Armenia return to their own stadium buoyed by a strong home record of three straight wins with seven goals scored and just one conceded. Their defensive solidity will be tested by a Craiova side that has found the net in all three of its away matches this season, yet has a…
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Sign inArmenian champions Ararat-Armenia welcome Romanian side Universitatea Craiova to Yerevan on Thursday for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off, with the tie hanging in the balance after a 1-1 draw in Craiova last week. The match will be played at the club’s Yerevan Football Academy home, where a tiny 1,500-capacity ground will host a winner-takes-all evening with a group-stage berth on the line.
Head coach Tulipa has a fully fit Ararat-Armenia squad available, a luxury that allows him to stick with the side that competed well in Romania. Goalkeeper João Bravim will continue behind a back line likely to feature Hugo Oliveira, Junior Bueno, Bruno Wilson and Edgar Grigoryan. Midfield captain Karen Muradyan, a steadying presence in the engine room, is set to start again.
Universitatea Craiova boss Filipe Coelho has more selection headaches. Alexandru Iamandache (knee) and goalkeeper Pavlo Isenko (meniscus) are definite absentees, while Ronaldo Webster remains a doubt with an unspecified issue. Coelho could rotate his attacking options, weighing whether to start Steven Nsimba or hand Assad Al Hamlawi the central striker role after netting against Otelul at the weekend.
Ararat-Armenia struck first in Craiova when Greek defender Alexandros Malis headed home in the 20th minute, sending the small travelling contingent into raptures. Universitatea Craiova responded 13 minutes later through 33-year-old captain Nicușor Bancu, who levelled from close range and went on to be named man of the match for a combative display down the left. The home side pushed for a winner in the closing stages, yet Ararat-Armenia’s defence held firm to preserve the draw.
Gabriel Couto, reflecting on the performance, said the 1-1 scoreline “reflected the game,” acknowledging how evenly contested the tie remains.
Control of the midfield will likely decide which side reaches the Europa League group stage. Muradyan, Armenia’s experienced anchor, must screen the back four and break up Craiova’s rhythm, while Cicaldau — the Romanians’ creative hub — will look to thread passes through to the forward line. The duel between Muradyan’s positional discipline and Cicaldau’s knack for finding pockets of space could tip the tie.
Both clubs are already guaranteed a UEFA Conference League group-stage spot should they fail to progress, softening the risk but sharpening the ambition. For Ararat-Armenia, a place in the Europa League proper would be a historic first, while Universitatea Craiova are eager to return to that stage after a recent absence. The tie is level with no away-goals advantage, so if the scores remain locked after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will decide who advances to Friday’s group-stage draw.
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