UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round: Başakşehir FK - U. Craiova

In the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, İstanbul Başakşehir faced Universitatea Craiova. The match took place on 21 August 2025 at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium in İstanbul and ended with a 2-1 victory for Romanian side Universitatea Craiova. This encounter formed the first leg of the two-legged play-off round.

First Leg: Başakşehir FK 1-2 U. Craiova

Match Information

The first match of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round was played on 21 August 2025 in İstanbul. The game kicked off at 20:45 local time at the Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium and was officiated by Juxhin Xhaja from the Albanian Football Federation. İstanbul Başakşehir were managed by head coach Çağdaş Atan, while Universitatea Craiova were led by Mirel Rădoi. Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak attended the match at the stadium.

First Leg: Başakşehir FK - U. Craiova (AA)

Lineups

Başakşehir

M. Şengezer – O. Bulut (83' Ebosele) – L. Duarte (45' Opoku) – O. Ba – C. Operi – M. Crespo (83' Umut Güneş) – B. A. Özdemir – Ö. F. Beyaz (46' Brnić) – D. Türüç (77' Fayzullaev) – N. Da Costa – E. Shomurodov

Universitatea Craiova

P. Isenko – O. Romanchuk – V. Screciu – J. Badelj – C. Mora – S. Teles (89' Mekvabishvili) – T. Băluță – A. Cicâldău (90+3' Crețu) – N. Bancu – A. Al-Hamlawi – Ș. Baiaram (72' Nsimba)

Match Summary

First Half

Başakşehir began the match with greater possession but struggled to create clear chances in the opening period. In the 6th minute, a deflected ball from defense fell to Bancu on the left diagonal of the penalty area, but his shot toward the far post narrowly went out of play. In the 38th minute, during a right-wing attack by Craiova, Bancu capitalized on Al-Hamlawi’s heel pass, but his shot also went wide.

In the closing moments of the first half, the visitors increased their pressure. In the 45+2 minute, after Al-Hamlawi entered the penalty area, his shot struck defender Ousseynou Ba and rebounded onto the penalty spot. Alexandru Cicâldău, who arrived at the rebound ahead of goalkeeper Muhammed Şengezer, scored to put Craiova ahead 1-0. The first half ended with that scoreline.

First Leg: Başakşehir FK - U. Craiova (AA)

Second Half

Universitatea Craiova started the second half strongly. In the 50th minute, a corner from the right flank by Deniz Türüç was not cleared by goalkeeper Isenko and fell to Crespo at the back post. The Portuguese player’s shot narrowly went out of play. In the 56th minute, Onur Bulut delivered a cross, and Berat Özdemir passed to Brnić, whose shot went over the bar.

In the 61st minute, Craiova doubled their lead. After a throw-in by Romanchuk, Carlos Mora ran behind the defense and struck a powerful shot across the goal to make it 2-0. In the 65th minute, Băluță’s shot from around 30 meters was saved by Şengezer and pushed onto the corner flag. In the 67th minute, Isenko made a successful save to deny Onur Bulut’s shot from outside the penalty area.

In the 87th minute, Başakşehir reduced the deficit. Following a cross from the left by Brnić, Festy Ebosele met the ball on the right diagonal, outmaneuvered defender Bancu, and scored to make it 2-1. In the remaining minutes, Başakşehir pushed forward in search of an equalizer but failed to find the net and left the field defeated.

First Leg: Başakşehir FK - U. Craiova (AA)

Second Leg Preview

The return leg will be played on 28 August 2025 at the Ion Oblemenco Stadium in Craiova, Romania. For İstanbul Başakşehir to advance, they must win the second leg by at least a two-goal margin. If the second leg ends 2-1 in favor of Başakşehir, the team progressing will be determined by a penalty shootout.

Second Match: U. Craiova 3-1 Başakşehir

Match Information

The second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round was played on 28 August 2025 at the Ion Oblemenco Stadium in Craiova, Romania. İstanbul Başakşehir lost 3-1 away to Universitatea Craiova and were eliminated from the tournament with an aggregate score of 5-2. The match was officiated by Daniel Schlager of the German Football Association.

Lineups

Universitatea Craiova

Isenko, Romanchuk, Screciu, Badelj, Mora, Teles (90+2 Cretu), Baluta (90+4 Houri), Cicaldau (77 Mekvabishvili), Bancu, Al Hamlawi, Baiaram (77 Nsimba)

İstanbul Başakşehir

Volkan Babacan, Ebosele, Ba, Opoku, Operi, Onur Ergün (63 Fayzullaev), Berat Özdemir (63 Umut Güneş), Crespo (46 Kemen), Shomurodov, Brnic (81 Yusuf Sarı), Selke (73 Da Costa)

Match Summary

First Half

In the 7th minute, İstanbul Başakşehir took the lead. Selke moved into the six-yard box to meet a corner kick from the left flank and headed the ball into the net.

In the 9th minute, Universitatea Craiova equalized. Bancu drove into the penalty area from the left wing and delivered a low cross, which Cicaldau struck from the left diagonal of the box. Despite a touch from goalkeeper Volkan Babacan, the ball found the net.

In the 13th minute, Al Hamlawi connected with a ball curled in from the right by Mora inside the six-yard box, but his shot was deflected onto the crossbar by Volkan Babacan.

In the 19th minute, Bancu received a pass from Baiaram, dribbled past Ebosele to enter the penalty area, and fired a cross-shot that was again saved by goalkeeper Volkan Babacan and pushed onto the crossbar.

In the 27th minute, the home team took the lead. Following a pass from Cicaldau, Bancu advanced down the left flank and delivered a low cross. Baiaram arrived at the penalty spot and struck the ball to make the score 2-1.

Second Match: U. Craiova - Başakşehir (AA)

Second Half

In the 60th minute, Başakşehir created a chance. Kemen met a pass from Shomurodov inside the penalty area but his shot went over the crossbar.

In the 67th minute, a left corner kick from Operi led to a header from Opoku inside the six-yard box, which sailed over the crossbar.

In the 81st minute, Universitatea Craiova extended their lead to 3-1. Nsimba received a pass from Mekvabishvili inside the six-yard box and fired a clean shot into the net.

In the 82nd minute, İstanbul Başakşehir were reduced to 10 men. Operi was shown a direct red card for a foul on his opponent.

Second Match: U. Craiova - Başakşehir (AA)

Post-Match Statements

At the final whistle, İstanbul Başakşehir head coach Çağdaş Atan and his team bid farewell to the UEFA Europa Conference League after their elimination in the play-off round, concluding their European campaign at this stage.