Rapid Viena – Universitatea Craiova, in the group of the Conference League » Oltenii is looking for the first success on the field of the team with consecutive defeats

Mirel Rădoi's Olteni are looking for the first success in this phase of the competition, where they have qualified for the first time in the current competitive season, after accumulating only one point in the first two stages. On the other hand, the Austrians are also looking to win, considering that they have two setbacks after the first rounds in the single group.

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Rapid Vienna – Universitatea Craiova, the probable teams

Rapid Vienna: Gartler – Cvetkovic, Ahoussou, Raux-Yao – Bolla, Antiste, Romeo, Seidl, Demir – Kara, Wurmbrand
Reserves: Goschl, Hedl, Amane, Auer, Grgic, Gulliksen, Radulovic, Schaub, Tilio, Weixelbraun
Coach: Peter Stoger

University of Craiova: Isenko – Romanchuk, Rus, Screciu – Mora, D. Matei, T. Băluţă, Cicâldău, Bancu – Al Hamlawi, Baiaram
Reserves: L. Popescu, Lung jr. – Stevanovic, Teles, Anzor, Etim, Nsimba, Badelj, Băsceanu, Crețu, Houri, Mogos, Fl. Ștefan
Coach: Mirel Radoi

Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Referee: Martin Matosa (Slovenia)
Assistants: Aleksandar Kasapovic, Matic Meznar
VAR referee: Asmir Sagrkovic
AVAR Referee: Aleksandar Matkovic

Rapid Vienna and Craiova, a modest start in the Conference League group

Before the match, Universitatea Craiova is in 28th place, with only one point, while Rapid Viena is penultimate, with failures on the line.

Olten started with a failure in the group, score 0-2, on the field of Rakow, in Poland, then drew “Ion Oblemenco”, score 1-1, with FC Noah, the champion of Armenia, after leading 1-0 until almost the end.

On the other hand, the Austrians have no points so far in the group, suffering two clear failures, score 1-4 with Lech Poznan and 0-3 with Fiorentina.

Before the match on Thursday night, in the championship, at the end of last week, Craiova drew dramatically in the 15th round of the Superliga, at home, score 2-2 with Rapid, while the team from Vienna won the duel at home with Sturm Graz, score 2-1, in the 12th stage of the Austrian Bundesliga.

Mirel Rădoi, statements before Rapid Vienna – Craiova University

A difficult game is coming up, we are two teams looking for the first victory. Rapid Vienna is a very strong opponent, much more difficult than we have encountered so far. It is a much more dynamic, more organized team. They were also unlucky, they played Lech and Fiorentina, two strong opponents, but the results were exaggerated. It won't be a match at all like our two so far.

Rapid Vienna has an aggressive game, it comes in its own half regardless of the situation on the table. I watched the Austrian championship when I was with the national team and there is a huge difference compared to what it is now. I would not have thought that it could grow so much and that a team from the Austrian championship, even Rapid Vienna, could reach this level of intensity. An extremely difficult match awaits us, with tough duels. That's what they rely on in all areas of the field

This new format of the competition creates difficulties if you fail to get even one point. A more difficult program is coming for us. But that doesn't mean we didn't come here to win. At the same time, if it ends up being equal, I won't be able to say I'm not satisfied. Because we still have home games… and if we win a game, with 5 points you are on the verge of entering the first 24 teams. But that doesn't mean that tomorrow night we're going to give up on the duels. We are aware of what awaits us, the group understands that they have to show much more than they have shown so far in this competition

– Mirel Rădoi, coach University of Craiova

Standings in the only group in the Conference League