Tonight at 20:30, Dinamo will go head-to-head with Universitatea Craiova at the Arcul de Triumf in a much-anticipated Superliga match. This encounter not only represents a historical rivalry but also serves as a critical moment for both teams as they seek to recover from recent setbacks. Universitatea Craiova is preparing for this duel against their historic rival just before two matches against Levski Sofia in the Champions League preliminary rounds.
Both teams enter this match looking to bounce back from disappointing results. Dinamo suffered a 0-1 defeat to Petrolul in their opening match of the season, while Universitatea Craiova recently returned from Sofia, where they also lost 0-1 to Levski in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie.
This match marks Dinamo’s first official home game under new management and features a significantly revamped squad, along with a new club logo. It’s also an opportunity for Dinamo to seek revenge, having narrowly missed the Romanian Cup final last season, conceding a late equalizer before losing on penalties.
Watch Live from 20:30 » Dinamo vs. Universitatea Craiova
For live updates and statistics, click here.
UPDATE 14:00 » New Detail on Dinamo’s Bus
On the day of the derby, Dinamo’s new team bus received an update after an earlier oversight. Previously, the bus displayed only 12 Romanian Cup titles, but it has now been corrected to reflect the accurate count of 13.
UPDATE 10:00 » Flavius Stoican’s Prediction Pre-Match
Former Dinamo coach Flavius Stoican commented on the upcoming match, suggesting it will be a closely contested affair, despite Universitatea Craiova appearing to have an edge going into the game.
“I predict a balanced duel, even though Universitatea Craiova might be favored. This is a derby, a match of great pride. As a spectator, I hope to see many goals, but I suspect it will be a tightly contested match. Both teams are coming off defeats, albeit in different competitions. Dinamo showed good form despite the loss in Ploiești and should match Craiova’s level,” said Stoican.
Projected Lineups for Dinamo vs. Universitatea Craiova
Dinamo (4-3-3): Bellaarouch – Duțu, Pascual, Stoinov, Opruț – Soro, Mărginean, Cîrjan – Armstrong, Karamoko, Musi
Bench: Epassy, Roșca, D. Irimia, Al. Irimia, Mazilu, Cr. Mihai, Hintsa, Al. Pop, R. Radu, Tarbă, Udosen, Opriș
Absent: Pușcaș (injured)
Coach: Nuno Campos
Universitatea Craiova (3-4-3): Sava – Stevanovic, Screciu, Ad. Rus – Heriberto, Teles, Anzor, Webster – D. Matei, Nsimba, Etim
Bench: L. Popescu, Al. Crețu, Romanchuk, Baiaram, Badelj, Mora, Elisor, Cicâldău, Băsceanu, Bancu, M. Rădulescu, T. Băluță
Absent: Isenko, Al-Hamlawi, Iamandache, Assad Al-Hamlawi (all injured)
Coach: Filipe Coelho
Stadium: Arcul de Triumf
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Carei). Assistants: Marius Marica (Cluj Napoca), Ferencz Tunyogi (Zalău). VAR: Marcel Bîrsan (București). VAR Assistant: Sebastian Gheorghe (Suceava)
Statements from the Coaches Ahead of the Match
Nuno Campos, Dinamo’s coach, stated, “Craiova is the reigning champion, and they have earned it. They won both the Cup and the Supercup, indicating a strong team with a clear tactical approach. For us, this is a chance to measure ourselves against the champions. We need to be proactive when we have the ball and ensure that we don’t concede when we don’t.”
Filipe Coelho, Craiova’s coach, remarked, “This is a tough match against a very good team. Unlike last year, our approach has evolved. We aim to perform well and secure three points, but player fitness will be crucial as we have an important match following this one. We need to be at our best to earn points against a quality side.”
Notable Statistics for Dinamo vs. Craiova
So far in 2026, Dinamo has recorded five victories, three draws, and two losses at home in the top league. Conversely, Universitatea Craiova has won four of their ten away matches in the Superliga this calendar year, with four ending in draws. Since the re-emergence of football in Craiova in 2014, both teams have faced each other in the league 28 times, with Craiova winning 15 matches, Dinamo winning four, and nine ending in a draw.
The last goalless match in the Superliga occurred on March 19, 2017, with Dinamo as hosts.
The only victory for Dinamo in the last 16 league encounters against Universitatea Craiova was a 2-1 win on August 24, 2024.
The most recent league encounter was on May 3, 2026, where Universitatea Craiova defeated Dinamo 2-1.
