Universitatea Craiova vs Sparta Praha Prediction and Betting Tips

Universitatea Craiova will host Sparta Praha at the Stadionul Ion Oblemenco on Thursday in the penultimate round of the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League's league phase. The home side opened their league phase campaign poorly, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Rakow Czestochowa in early October but have since recovered and could potentially secure a top-eight finish by winning their remaining two fixtures.

Craiova had their toughest Conference League fixture of the season in the last round as they welcomed Bundesliga side Mainz 05 to Romania. They, however, managed to triumph over the German side, securing a 1-0 victory, with Assad Al-Hamlawi coming off the bench to score the winner from the spot mere minutes after his introduction.

Sparta Praha, meanwhile, have had mixed results on the continental stage this season but crucially returned to winning ways last time out, defeating Legia Warsaw 1-0 on the road. In a closely contested first period, Angelo Preciado clinched the spoils for Železná Sparta with a 41st-minute strike, marking his first goal for the club since last February.

The visitors sit seventh in the table, but are level on seven points with their midweek opponents, who are in 11th place, and will be keen to open up a gap with a win on Thursday.

Universitatea Craiova vs Sparta Praha Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

Thursday's game will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Sparta have faced Romanian opposition 10 times in European competitions. They have recorded four wins, three draws, and three defeats.
Craiova are the joint-third lowest-scoring team in the Conference League this term, having netted just three goals in four matches.
Sparta have conceded two goals in the Conference League this season. Only AEK Larnaca (0) have shipped fewer.

Universitatea Craiova vs Sparta Praha Prediction

Alb-albaștrii head into the midweek clash on a five-match unbeaten streak and have lost just one of their last 12 outings across all competitions. Despite their home advantage, they remain slight underdogs heading into this fixture, having managed just one win in their last five home fixtures.

Železná Sparta, meanwhile, have won their last two matches and four of their last five. They have been superb on the road of late, winning each of their last four away outings and should secure a fifth consecutive victory on Thursday.

Prediction: Universitatea Craiova 1-2 Sparta Praha