CSU Craiova – Dinamo

CSU Craiova and Dinamo Bucharest will meet for the second time in 10 days, this time in the Romanian Cup quarterfinals. The game will be played over a single leg, with CSU as hosts (though they play their home matches 100+ km away from Craiova this year).

CSU Craiova is struggling big time to produce goals right now, having scored only three times in the last six matches – and winning only once in that timeframe. Since the Romanian Liga 1 playoffs started two rounds ago, Craiova ended both matches 0-0, including against Dinamo 10 days ago. The hosts are definitely not in the best form right now, but they were arguably the better team 10 days ago against Dinamo, in Bucharest.

Dinamo is in a bit better form than Craiova, but in a very similar situation overall. The Red Dogs are just 1 point behind them in the league and also drew both Liga 1 playoff matches 0-0 (after 4 consecutive wins). Dinamo was one of the most high scoring teams this season, keeping just 3 clean sheets in 28 matches with Ioan Andone at the helm. However, since he was sacked and ex-Getafe manager Contra took over, Dinamo became increasingly pragmatic and low scoring. Under Contra, Dinamo kept 4 clean sheets in 6 matches, allowing only two goals.

Bet on Craiova vs. Dinamo and claim your 100% (100 Eur) freebet at Ohmbet now!

Team news: This is a very important match for both sides, so each team is expected to field the best available lineup. Dinamo will miss its best and only natural striker, Adam Nemec, along with his backup, Bawab. Regular keeper Penedo is also out and since his backup Branescu is a long term casualty, Dinamo will field their third choice keeper.

Both teams are playing very cagey football right now and the stats couldn`t tell the story better. In the last three matches, Dinamo has a 2-0 goal difference, while Craiova has a 1-0 goal difference!

Craiova’s manager complained that he has no reliable striker and that there is nobody in the squad who can score goals, while Dinamo’s manager stated that right now he is interested in building a solid defense, with the offense set to come later.

As for this match, Craiova’s manager stated that the two teams know eachother very well and given the importance of the match, he expects a very tactical encounter. He said that he wants focus in defense and killer instinct upfront.

The two team met twice in the last few weeks. The first game was a 2-1 Dinamo win after a pretty entertaining game, but that was only the second game with Contra in charge of Dinamo, so there was a lot of inertia from the high scoring period of the ex manager. In the second H2H meeting, 10 days ago, it was a complete borefest, a 0-0 draw which barely saw 1 or 2 real chances to score.

Stats, circumstances, the matchup, common sense and the way the managers prefaced the match, all indicate a low scoring game here. When you add the stakes of this Cup tie and Dinamo missing their two best strikers (though they also miss their main GK), an underish match becomes even more likely.

Both Craiova and Dinamo are very interested to qualify and my guess is that it will determine another pragmatic, ugly game in which both sides will want to avoid falling behind.

My tip is under 2,5 goals to be scored and I think it`s hard to argue against this bet, win or lose – as there are so many facts backing it. Prediction: CSU Craiova – Dinamo Bucharest 0-1.

Pick: under 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.68 @ 1xBet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.44
Event date: 29 March