UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
Universitatea Craiova 2 - 2 FT Levski Sofia
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Everton Bala (Serginho) 13'
Aldair (Everton Bala) 16'
Aldair 26'
33' Θtefan Baiaram
45'+2 NicuΘor Bancu (David Matei)
Maicon 45'+3
HT
β Aldair βΓlex Centelles 46'
β Nikola Serafimov βChristian Makoun 46'
48' Adrian Rus
Akram Bouras 55'
β Armstrong Oko-Flex βMazire Soula 55'
59' β Θtefan Baiaram βMonday Etim
59' β Carlos Mora βSamuel Teles
67' β Nikola StevanoviΔ βTudor BΔluΘΔ
77' β David Matei βHeriberto Tavares
β Everton Bala βGaΕ‘per Trdin 77'
77' β Anzor Mekvabishvili βSimon Elisor
β Reinaldo βJuan Perea 87'
88' Adrian Rus
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Universitatea Craiova
Goalkeepers
LaurenΕ£iu Popescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Adrian Rus
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nikola StevanoviΔ
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vladimir Screciu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Carlos Mora
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Anzor Mekvabishvili
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alexandru CicΓ’ldΔu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
NicuΘor Bancu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
David Matei
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Steven Nsimba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Θtefan Baiaram
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Alexandru Maxim
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
RΔzvan Sava
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Juraj Badelj
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Samuel Teles
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tudor BΔluΘΔ
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alexandru CreΘu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mihnea RΔdulescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luca BΔsceanu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Denys Muntean
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Monday Etim
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Heriberto Tavares
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Simon Elisor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Levski Sofia
Goalkeepers
Svetoslav Vutsov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Aldair
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kristian Dimitrov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nikola Serafimov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Maicon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Akram Bouras
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
El Mehdi Moubarik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Serginho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Armstrong Oko-Flex
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Everton Bala
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Reinaldo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Ognyan Vladimirov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Martin Lukov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Christian Makoun
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Γlex Centelles
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mazire Soula
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
GaΕ‘per Trdin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Asen Ivanov Mitkov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
David Kusso
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adrian Raychev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Juan Perea
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mustapha SangarΓ©
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Steven Stoyanchov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/2026 | Levski Sofia | 1 - 0 | Universitatea Craiova | UEFA Champions League | Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov |
07/22/2026
Universitatea Craiova Win
Levski Sofia Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Craiova's Roaring Comeback Denies Levski Early Advantage
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 67/100. A thunderous fightback under the lights leaves this Champions League qualifier delicately balanced ahead of a winner-takes-all second leg.
A Blistering Bulgarian Start
The Levski Sofia attackers came out of the gates with ferocious intent, stunning the passionate crowd at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco inside a frantic opening quarter of an hour. The Stakes were monumental for this early Champions League qualifier, yet the visiting side looked entirely unfazed by the hostile environment. Everton Bala drew first blood in the 13th minute, expertly finishing off a precise attacking sequence engineered by Serginho. Before the Romanian hosts could even catch their breath or regroup defensively, the Bulgarian outfit doubled their sudden advantage. Merely three minutes later, Everton Bala turned provider, sliding a perfect pass to A. Neves who ruthlessly made it 2-0. The blistering Intensity of Levski's transition play left the home defence chasing shadows during those chaotic opening exchanges.
The Crucial Halftime Lifeline
Despite the early two-goal deficit, Universitatea Craiova kept their composure and edged possession with 55% of the ball. However, they desperately needed a tangible spark to transform their territorial advantage into a genuine offensive threat. The defining turning point of the evening arrived at the most critical juncture possible: deep into first-half stoppage time. With only seconds remaining before the interval, D. Matei finally unlocked the rigid visiting defensive line, feeding N. Bancu who delivered a clinical strike to halve the deficit. That crucial 45th-minute lifeline completely shifted the Balance of the entire qualifying tie. The psychological momentum swung violently, transforming what initially appeared to be a comfortable away clinic into the beginnings of a desperate Bulgarian rearguard action.
The Second-Half Siege
Fuelled by that late lifeline, the hosts emerged from the tunnel completely revitalised for the second half. It took just three minutes for the pressure to tell, as A. Rus capitalised on early disorganisation to thunder home the equaliser at 2-2 in the 48th minute. Craiova maintained relentless set-piece pressure for the remainder of the contest, piling up an impressive 9 corners and repeatedly testing the Bulgarian resolve. Even with 129 total attacks and 9 shots, the home side could not quite land the final knockout blow to complete a total turnaround. Levski dug deep to protect parity, surviving the relentless siege thanks to their earlier clinical efficiency. The dust settles on a pulsating draw, teeing up a massive second-leg showdown.
Key Questions
How did Universitatea Craiova complete the comeback from behind?
Craiova struck at pivotal moments, with N. Bancu scoring in first-half stoppage time before A. Rus powered home the equaliser just three minutes after the break.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Tense Qualifier at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. The stakes are clear but the quality is lacking, making this a tie strictly for the hardcore supporters of both clubs.
The Setup
Universitatea Craiova host Levski Sofia at Stadionul Ion Oblemenco on July 29, 2026. This 2nd Qualifying Round tie lacks the glamour of the later stages. A low Stars rating reflects the absence of household names. Yet, the Stakes are genuine. Both sides are desperate to advance toward the lucrative Champions League main draw. A modest Form rating indicates neither team is firing on all cylinders early in the season. However, a solid Balance suggests we are in for a tight, hard-fought contest where fine margins will decide everything.
Key Battle
Without standout individual playmakers to dictate the tempo, the midfield trenches will be decisive. The home side's midfield engine room must break down a stubborn away defensive block. Expect a physical, gritty battle rather than a showcase of flowing, attacking football.
Our Prediction
Our verdict leans toward a cagey affair. Universitatea Craiova will control possession, but the visitors' tactical discipline will hold firm. A 1-1 draw leaves everything to play for in the second leg.