Universitatea Craiova secures Champions League advancement with second-leg victory

Universitatea Craiova has advanced to the second preliminary round of the Champions League after defeating Belarusian side ML Vitebsk 1-0 in the second leg. The Romanian team had already established a commanding 4-1 lead in the first leg, making them strong favorites for this return match.

The game in Craiova was closely contested, with the decisive goal coming late in the match. Bancu scored in the first minute of stoppage time, finding the net with a shot from 20 meters after receiving a pass from Mekvabishvili. Despite numerous chances, particularly for the home side which also hit the post, the score remained level until Bancu's late intervention.

Universitatea Craiova will now turn their attention to their next opponent: Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia. The first leg of this tie is scheduled to take place in Sofia, with the return match to be held in Craiova a week later. The club's progression through these preliminary rounds is crucial, as reaching the group stages of any European competition, including the Conference League, requires navigating multiple qualifying rounds.