Levi Rothermund
Universitatea Craiova welcome Sabah Baku to Stadionul Ion Oblemenco on June 24 in a pre-season friendly that pits a mid-table Romanian top-flight side against an Azerbaijani outfit that has been quietly building across the 2025/26 campaign. Both teams head into this match off the back of a draw in their most recent outings, which adds a layer of unpredictability. Craiova’s attacking midfielder Alexandru Cicâldău is the creative engine in midfield and will be the one to watch for the hosts, while Sabah’s recent results show they are capable of hurting teams on the break, making Samuel Teles an interesting figure to watch in the transition phases for Craiova.
Hot stat: Universitatea Craiova put five goals past U. Cluj just days before their scoreless draw with Rapid Bucuresti, showing their attack can be lethal one match and completely absent the next. That inconsistency is worth keeping in mind when assessing this fixture.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, June Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, Craiova |
| 🗓️ Date: | 24.06.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:00 CEST |
Universitatea Craiova vs Sabah Baku Prediction
This is a friendly, and both teams are using the window to test rotations and fitness. Craiova have home advantage and a stronger recent record in competitive fixtures, but their last match was a 0-0 draw with Rapid Bucuresti, which shows they can stall even against domestic opposition. Sabah Baku lost to Neftci Baku and Kapaz in their recent run, which points to some vulnerability at the back and a tendency to concede when pressed.
We think Craiova will get the win here, playing on home soil with more structure and familiarity in their setup. Sabah’s Azerbaijani pedigree is modest in European terms, and a friendly away in Romania is not the easiest environment for them to impose themselves.
Craiova committed 13 fouls in their last match and collected a yellow card, which suggests a physical approach under Filipe Coelho. Their pass accuracy sat at around 87%, which is solid but not dominant. Sabah’s recent lineup data is not available, but their form string shows inconsistency, and teams that alternate between wins and draws in that fashion often struggle to set the tempo in away friendlies.
With corners in mind, Craiova produced six in their last outing and had 15 total shots, which suggests they like to apply wide pressure. Expect the hosts to generate set-piece opportunities.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Universitatea Craiova to win both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 1.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Universitatea Craiova have played 25 matches this year, winning 14 of them for a 56% win rate. Their recent form reads wddlwwlwwwwddwd, which is a mix of strong spells followed by flat patches. The 5-0 demolition of U. Cluj was the highlight of their recent run, but the goalless draw against Rapid Bucuresti that followed it confirmed that Craiova’s attack is streaky. Under Filipe Coelho, the team tends to press high and use wide areas, with Luca Băsceanu and Samuel Teles providing width and shot volume from midfield positions. Their defensive line, anchored by Vasile Mogoș and Florin Stefan, is experienced but not always tight in transition.
Sabah Baku come into this match with a 61% win rate across 23 games this year, which is actually slightly better than Craiova’s record on paper. Their form string dwwwdwdwwwddwdd shows they can put together decent winning runs, but their most recent match ended in a 1-2 defeat to Neftci Baku, and before that they lost to Kapaz. Coach Valdas Dambrauskas has been using a 3-4-3 shape in recent matches, which can create numerical overloads in midfield but leaves them exposed on the flanks when the wing-backs are caught high. The 3-0 win over Shamakhi earlier in their run showed they can finish cleanly when the system clicks.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
There is no recorded head-to-head history between Universitatea Craiova and Sabah Baku available. The table below reflects statistics from each team’s most recent individual match.
| Statistic | Universitatea Craiova | Sabah Baku |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
| Total shots | 15 | N/A |
| Free kicks | 7 | N/A |
| Corner kicks | 6 | N/A |
| Total fouls | 13 | N/A |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 87% | N/A |
| Interceptions | 10 | N/A |
| Offsides | 2 | N/A |
🚨Check out our dedicated Universitatea Craiova vs Sabah Baku stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Universitatea Craiova the Favourite
No bookmaker odds were available at the time of writing for this fixture. The match is a low-profile pre-season friendly between sides from different confederations, which limits market coverage. Based on team quality and home advantage, Craiova should be the clear favourite when odds do appear.
- Moneyline Universitatea Craiova N/A | Sabah Baku N/A
- Draw N/A
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
Craiova’s home record, combined with Sabah’s recent losses to Azerbaijani sides, suggests the hosts carry genuine value once lines open. We would honestly expect a moderate price on Craiova given the context, and Over 1.5 goals looks like a sensible angle given the 5-0 Craiova put up earlier in the month.
Sabah Baku. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Universitatea Craiova Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Laurenţiu Popescu
- DF: Vasile Mogoș, Nikola Stevanović, Florin Stefan, Juraj Badelj
- MF: Alexandru Cretu, Vladimir Screciu, Samuel Teles
- FW: Alexandru Cicâldău, Aime Steven Nsimba Labe, Stefan Baiaram
Craiova have been rotating heavily, with several players logging 45-minute appearances across recent games. Laurenţiu Popescu gets the nod in goal based on consistent playing time. The back four picks itself based on minutes logged, with Mogoș and Stevanović both going the full 90 in the last outing. Cicâldău, despite only playing 45 minutes recently, is a key figure in the 4-3-3 and could start here given the friendly context. Nsimba Labe led the line for 90 minutes last time out and brings direct running. Baiaram adds creativity from wide. Expect Coelho to shuffle the pack at half-time, so first-half performance will be the clearest indicator of intent.
Sabah Baku Possible Starting Eleven
Sabah Baku’s individual player data was not available in the provided stats. Based on their preferred 3-4-3 formation under Valdas Dambrauskas, the team likely lines up with a back three, two attacking wing-backs, and a front trio designed to press high and create overloads. The 3-4-3 can be effective in short bursts but demands high energy, which may be a concern for an away friendly after a tiring domestic season. Dambrauskas will probably use this match to give minutes to fringe players.
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Universitatea Craiova. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Universitatea Craiova win this one. They are at home, they have better documented form in the data available, and their attack has shown it can produce goals in bunches. Sabah Baku have a respectable win rate this year, but two recent losses and a complete absence of available lineup data makes them difficult to back with confidence.
We think Craiova score at least twice, with Sabah maybe grabbing a consolation late on. The 4-3-3 shape gives Craiova width and pressing intensity, and a team ranked considerably higher in the world club standings should control this match from early on. Honest take: maybe not a six-goal thriller, but a comfortable home win with a clean sheet is very much in play given how Sabah struggled against Neftci and Kapaz.
Our prediction: Universitatea Craiova win, under 3.5 total goals, and no goals for Sabah Baku.
