Universitatea Craiova recently returned from Kuopio with a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a crucial qualification match at Ion Oblemenco Stadium. However, the advantage of playing at home may not be as significant against KuPS, a Finnish team known for its strong away performances.
KuPS showcases a unique statistical profile, maintaining or even enhancing performance metrics typically diminished during away matches. The encounter between Universitatea Craiova and KuPS, part of the Europa League third preliminary round, is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, at 20:00. Fans can follow the live commentary on GSP.ro and watch it on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1.
A successful qualification for Craiova would mean facing Ararat-Armenia, who were eliminated dramatically by Celje in the Champions League qualifiers.
KuPS: A Tough Adversary on the Road
Typically, teams experience a drop in performance when playing away, but for KuPS, the opposite is true. Their statistics show that they not only maintain their game levels but also become more productive in several areas when playing outside their home ground.
In terms of possession and shooting frequency, KuPS scores higher away than at home, with their shots on target increasing by nearly 19%. Furthermore, they concede 38% fewer goals on the road compared to their home games, based on all competitive matches played in 2026.
- Home Possession: 54.6% | Away Possession: 57.5%
- Home Shots: 14.3 | Away Shots: 15.0
- Home Shots on Target: 4.9 | Away Shots on Target: 5.8
- Home Goals Conceded: 1.08 | Away Goals Conceded: 0.67
No Compromise on Offense
Interestingly, KuPS does not compromise its offensive strategy when playing away. They enjoy more possession away from home, averaging 57.5% compared to 54.6% at home. This indicates that they do not lose control of the game, even in hostile environments.
The team executes around 524 passes per match at home and 521 away, with little decline in passing accuracy from 85.1% to 85.6%. They continue to produce an impressive number of shots and maintain the quality of their scoring chances.
Defense Remains Strong
KuPS becomes significantly more challenging to defeat when it comes to defense. While they concede an average of 1.08 goals at home, that number drops to 0.67 on the road, a reduction of approximately 38%. This statistic serves as a warning to Craiova, given KuPS’ recent record away from home, which includes seven wins, two losses, and three draws in their last twelve official matches.
With a goal difference of 18-8 in that span, it is notable that KuPS has not conceded any goals in seven of those twelve away matches.
A standout performance came during a 4-0 victory against HJK in Helsinki, where they maintained about 65% possession and recorded 33 shots, generating approximately 4.94 expected goals (xG). This embodies their ability to attack decisively while maintaining a balance in possession.
KuPS has also shown resilience against formidable opponents, achieving significant victories such as 4-0 against HJK, and 2-0 against both SJK and Vardar, the latter victory occurring in the current European campaign.
In this European season, KuPS initially competed in the Champions League qualifiers, narrowly edging out Vardar with a 4-3 aggregate after a dramatic two-legged tie. They were subsequently eliminated by Sabah with a 1-0 loss in Azerbaijan and a 0-2 home defeat.
While the European sample might be small, the victory in Skopje aligns with their competitive profile built in the domestic league. KuPS has demonstrated an ability to secure away victories through various strategies, whether by dominating matches or adopting a more direct approach when necessary.
