Filipe Coelho, massive changes for the match with Petrolul » Eugen Neagoe, ready to debut a striker
Article by George Nistor – Published on Thursday, 04 December 2025, 15:48 / Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2025 16:02
Craiova University will line up a much changed starting line-up in the game with Petrolfrom the second round of the Romanian Betano Cup, which will be played today, at 21:00. Filipe Coelho (45 years old) made the decision not to rely on the services of Steven Nsimba and Adrian Rus, so the list of unavailables takes on proportions for Olteni.
The two players will be taken care of, in the context in which the team from Bănie faces two difficult matches in the next week. On Sunday, it will face CFR Cluj, in the Superliga, and on Thursday, Sparta Praga, in the Conference League, both duels being scheduled at home.
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Petrolul Ploiești – Universitatea Craiova, from group B of the Romanian Cup, is played tonight, from 21:00. The match will be broadcast in liveTEXT format on GSP.ro and on TV on Prima Sport 1 and Digi Sport 1.
Nsimba, Rus and Paradela will not perform in Petrolul – Craiova University
In the last championship match, with U Cluj (0-0), Steven Nsimba (29 years old) accused physical problems, so the coach of the University of Craiova does not want to expose the French striker.
The situation is similar with regard to the central defender Adrian Rus (29 years old), used in the Ardeal game for 73 minutes. The stopper transferred by Olteni in September accused a state of fatigue lately.
Luis Paradela (28 years old) will not be at Coelho's disposal either. The Cuban on loan from Deportivo Saprissa, a team from the first division of Costa Rica, will leave Bania at the end of this month, as Craiova does not intend to pay the transfer clause set at 200,000 euros.
Instead, Denys Muntean (striker, 16 years old) and Darius Fălcuşan (defender, 19 years old) traveled with the team to Ploiești.
Nicușor Bancu could move to the right flank, in place of the injured Vasile Mogoș, in the match with Petrolul
Eugen Neagoe, ready to throw Rafinha into battle
The Petrol coach could use, for the first edition this season, the striker Rafinha (27 years old). The Brazilian-born Spaniard was transferred from Inter Descaldes in the summer, but was not listed in the LPF.
He played, however, in a friendly with Steaua, 2-2, during the competition break in October, and scored the two goals of the “yellow wolves”.
Olteni have accumulated three points in the group, and a new victory would strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the competition.
On the other hand, Prahoven would also re-enter the fight for qualification if they got the victory. In the first round, Craiova University won 4-1 against Cluj Health, while Petrolul started with a draw, 1-1 with UTA.
Petrolul – Craiova University, probable teams
The oil: Krell – Ricardinho, Papp, Roche, Sălceanu – Doukansy, Mateiu, Dongmo – Boțogan, Doumtsios, Grozav
Coach: Eugene Neagoe
University of Craiova: L. Popescu – Stefanovici, Screciu, Badelj – Bancu, Băluță, Mekvabishvili, Teles – Baiaram, Etim, Houri
Coach: Filipe Coelho
Stadium: “Ilie Oana” (Ploiesti)
Referee: Florin Andrei // Assistants: Mihai Marica, Ferencz Tunyogi
VAR Referee: Cătălin Popa // AVAR Referee: Catalin Porumbel
