Craiova University and Mainz face each other from 19:45 in the 4th stage of the Conference League group. The duel will be liveTEXT on GSP.ro, with real-time information from the stadium, and live on PrimaSport 1 and DigiSport 1.
Mainz is one of the three teams, along with Samsunspor and Celje, who have maximum points after the first 3 rounds. He is in 3rd place, with a goal difference of 4-1. This while the University of Craiova is in 20th place, with 4 points (a win, a draw and a defeat).
UPDATE 14:15: Mainz supporters visited the Christmas market in Craiova
More than 5 hours before the match, the supporters of Mainz took the city in stride. Some are at the restaurants in the center of Craiova, and most are at the Christmas market, where they warm themselves with mulled wine and beer. But also with traditional Romanian dishes.
University of Craiova – Mainz, live from 19:45
Craiova University – Mainz, probable teams
University of Craiova: Isenko – Mogoș, Romachuk, Ad. Rus, Bancu – T. Băluță, Mekvabishvili – Etim, Cicâldău, Baiaram – Al Hamlawi
Reserves: Lung jr, L. Popescu, Screciu, Stevanovic, Fl. Ștefan, Al. Crețu, D. Matei, Basceanu, Houri, Badelj, Nsimba, Mora, Teles
Coach: Filipe Coelho
Mainz: Zentner – Potulski, Da Costa, Kohr – Mwene, Amiri, Maloney, Kawasaki – Nebel, Weiper, Sieb
Reserves: Batz, Riess, Bobzien, Boving, Gleiber, Hanche-Olsen, Hollerbach, Sung, Nordin, Sano, Beratsching, Widmer
Coach: Bo Henriksen
Stadium: “Ion Oblemenco” (Craiova)
Referee: Dario Bel // Assistants: Goran Pataki, Ivan Janic
VAR referee: Fran Jovic // Assistant VAR: van Vuckovic
Conference League live standings
The University of Craiova, where Filipe Coelho will make his debut in the Conference League, comes after the first success in the group, 1-0 with Rapid Vienna. Olteni drew with Noah (1-1) and lost with Rakow (0-2). Mainz prevailed against Omonia (1-0), Zrinjiski (1-0) and Fiorentina (2-1).
What the two coaches said before the University of Craiova – Mainz
It will be a tough match with a stronger team, with very good players, a very very good coach. We are training hard to prepare very well for this match.
There will be an extremely strong battle. We will be ready to get a good result, it will be very important that the stadium is full and the fans help us from the first second to the last of the match.
For me it doesn't matter now where they are in the Bundesliga. We do our analysis, we don't rely on their place in the ranking at this moment. I have no doubt that we prepared well for this game.
I trust the guys, we have all the information, we will work as a team and tomorrow is the time to fight and give our best for the win.
That's football, unfortunately we don't have much time between games. As a coach I have to prepare everything in an extremely short time.
I think we can't forget that our players are not machines, robots. But the players who are the most important for me are working extremely well and I am very happy with them so far.
It is one of the best teams we meet, but at the same time it is a very good challenge for us. As a team, as a club, as a city, we will see tomorrow night what we can achieve.
– Filipe Coelho, coach University of Craiova
It was not a surprise to us that the University of Craiova changed its coach recently. Admittedly, it's more difficult when we're dealing with a new coach, because we don't know what he's preparing, we don't know his style, his ideas well, but we manage. We are 100% ready for the match.
We haven't decided yet how we will play in tomorrow's game. We mentally prepare ourselves for any outcome. It won't necessarily be a “black” match if we don't score. I saw the stadium, a very beautiful one. It will be a tough game for us. We play with a good team, which we respect.
We are confident that we will win. They have good, valuable players, but I can't pronounce their names. I singled out Romanchuk, but several are value players. Precisely for this reason it will be a complicated match.
– Bo Henriksen, Mainz coach
