Ararat-Armenia host Craiova with Europa League play-off tie finely poised
Ararat-Armenia welcome Universitatea Craiova to the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan for the return leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off, with the tie level after the first meeting in Romania. Craiova had led through the away goal before Ararat-Armenia responded to secure a 1-1 draw on 20 August, leaving nothing settled ahead of the second fixture.
Form lines up evenly
Both sides arrive with strikingly similar recent records. Ararat-Armenia have taken two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five outings, following a sequence of draw, draw, win, loss, win. Craiova have posted an identical return of two wins, two draws and one loss, though their run has come in a different order: win, draw, draw, win, loss.
With the number of victories tied at two apiece across those matches, neither club can point to a clear edge in current form heading into the second leg.
All to play for
The drawn first leg means Ararat-Armenia go into their home fixture without a cushion, and Craiova cannot afford to sit on the away goal alone. Given how evenly matched the two teams have been both in this tie and in their broader recent results, the outcome looks set to hinge on which side can find the decisive moment in Yerevan.