Craiova
GetafeBy Babatunde Sowole — Football Expert on European & South American Cups
History will be made in Craiova on Thursday evening. Universitatea Craiova line up against La Liga opposition for the first time since the 1984-85 season, while Getafe make their return to the continental stage after a six-year absence. The two teams open their Conference League league-phase journey by going head-to-head at the Ion Oblemenco stadium.
Filipe Coelho's men arrive for the first league-phase fixture in an excellent frame of mind. The Romanian outfit occupy third place in Liga I, having recorded four successive victories in the national championship — all without a single goal conceded. The high points have come in front of their own fans: a 4-0 demolition of Universitatea Cluj, a monstrous 5-0 against FCSB, and then a 1-0 away success at Csikszereda. The home numbers are truly impressive: in six domestic matches at this ground, Craiova have picked up five wins and scored 20 goals. That kind of momentum, coupled with a formidable home record, gives the club every reason to believe they can get a positive result in this European opener.
Yet the preparation has not been entirely smooth. Centre-back Adrian Rus continues his recovery from an injury picked up back in August. Forward Mondy Etim will also miss out after suffering a knock in the FCSB game, which is expected to sideline him for roughly a month. On top of that, wing-back Carlos Mora, who was in the starting lineup against Csikszereda, is banned for this encounter. Coelho must therefore find an alternative for the right flank, where the Costa Rican's absence may well upset the balance his side has grown used to.
The Madrid club have made a st
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Craiova3-4-3
Getafe5-2-1-2Predictions for Craiova vs Getafe will appear soon.
The match is on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at 17:45, at the Ion Oblemenco stadium in Craiova.
Craiova are facing La Liga opposition for the first time since the 1984-85 season, making this a historic European home fixture.
Craiova have won four consecutive domestic matches without conceding a goal. At home, they have five wins in six games, scoring 20 goals in the process.
Yes. Centre-back Adrian Rus is injured, forward Mondy Etim is sidelined for about a month, and wing-back Carlos Mora is suspended.
Getafe are returning to European competition after a six-year absence. The headline in the preview notes their 'away-day misery', though specific away form details are not provided.