Universitatea Craiova are within touching distance of the second qualifying round of the Champions League as they welcome Maxline Vitebsk for Wednesday night’s return leg in Romania.

The Romanian champions carry a commanding 4-1 advantage from last week’s first meeting and would need to suffer one of the most dramatic collapses in recent European qualifying history to fail to progress. For Vitebsk, meanwhile, the challenge is simple but daunting: produce the greatest result in the club’s history to keep their European dream alive.

The winners of the tie will move one step closer to the Champions League league phase, although both clubs already know continental football will continue in some form regardless of the outcome.

Craiova’s dream return to the European stage gathers pace

Universitatea Craiova could hardly have asked for a better start to their European campaign. The Romanian champions raced into a commanding lead during the first half of the opening leg, with Assad Al-Hamlawi scoring twice from the penalty spot before Steven Nsimba added a late fourth to leave the tie seemingly beyond doubt.

That result continued an excellent start to the new season for Filipe Coelho’s side, who also lifted the Romanian Super Cup after overcoming Universitatea Cluj on penalties earlier this month.

Confidence is understandably high around the club after finally ending their long wait for domestic glory. Last season’s title success represented Craiova’s first Romanian championship since 1991 and has reignited memories of the club’s famous European exploits during the early 1980s.

The White-Blues reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1982 before following that achievement with a UEFA Cup semi-final appearance a year later, establishing themselves as one of Eastern Europe’s most respected sides of that era.

While a repeat of those achievements may still be some distance away, progression to the second qualifying round now appears little more than a formality.

Al-Hamlawi will once again spearhead the attack after his double in Belarus, while Stefan Baiaram is expected to retain his place in an otherwise settled side.

Vitebsk chasing a miracle on their European debut

For Maxline Vitebsk, this season already represents the most remarkable chapter in the club’s history. Promoted from the Belarusian second tier in 2024, they followed that achievement by winning a first-ever Premier League title just a year later to secure an unexpected place in European competition.

Their introduction to Champions League football proved a painful one, however, as the gulf in experience between the two sides became apparent during the first leg.

Magomed Adiyev’s side nevertheless arrive in Romania with domestic form still providing encouragement. Vitebsk currently sit second in the Belarusian Premier League and remain firmly involved in another title race after collecting 31 points from their opening 14 matches.

A 4-2 victory over Slavia Mozyr at the weekend offered a timely confidence boost, although overturning a three-goal deficit against opponents of Craiova’s calibre represents an entirely different challenge.

Bassekou Diabate, who has scored eight goals already this season, remains the visitors’ biggest attacking threat, while Aleksandar Mesarovic continues to contribute from midfield after an impressive first half of the domestic campaign. Injury problems are minimal, with Aleksey Nosko the only notable absentee for the Belarusian champions.

Verdict

Champions League qualifying can produce surprises, but this tie appears effectively over. Universitatea Craiova possess greater European pedigree, more experience at this level and already hold a commanding advantage after their impressive display in the first leg.

Vitebsk deserve enormous credit simply for reaching this stage given the speed of their rise through Belarusian football, but asking them to overturn a 4-1 deficit away from home may simply be too much.

The visitors should nevertheless approach the contest with freedom and ambition, knowing that they have little to lose.

Tip

Universitatea Craiova to win

The Romanian champions are unlikely to take unnecessary risks with such a healthy aggregate advantage, but their superior quality and home support should still prove enough to secure another victory and comfortable passage into the next round.