Universitatea Craiova Complete a Historic Double in the 2025-26 Romanian Football Season

The 2025-26 season proved to be a memorable one for Romanian football, dominated by the remarkable performances of Universitatea Craiova. The club from Oltenia not only claimed the domestic league title but also lifted the national cup, completing a historic double that cemented its status as the strongest team in the country during the campaign.

Universitatea Craiova win the league title

Universitatea Craiova secured the Liga I championship, the top division of Romanian football, winning the fifth league title in the club's history. The season ran from July 11, 2025, to May 25, 2026, and throughout the campaign Craiova proved to be the most consistent side, holding off strong competition from their closest rivals to reach the very summit.

The runners up spot went to Rapid Bucuresti, one of the most popular clubs in the country, who finished second in the final standings. Their strong campaign underlined the competitiveness of the Romanian top flight, although in the end they were unable to prevent Universitatea Craiova from claiming the coveted championship trophy this season.

A historic domestic double

Craiova's success was not limited to the league alone. The club also won the 2025-26 Cupa Romaniei, lifting the national cup for the eighth time in its history. The final was played on May 13, 2026, and Universitatea Craiova defeated Universitatea Cluj to complete a remarkable league and cup double within the very same season.

The competition, officially known as the Cupa Romaniei Betano due to its main sponsor, was the 88th edition of the Romanian football cup. It was a vast tournament, featuring 171 teams in the qualifying rounds and 136 teams in the main competition, highlighting the broad reach of the cup across Romanian football at every single level.

The numbers behind the season

The 2025-26 Liga I season featured 16 clubs competing across a long and demanding calendar. In total, 240 matches were played over the course of the campaign, producing an impressive 613 goals. That works out at an average of 2.55 goals per match, a figure that reflects an attacking and entertaining season for supporters across the country.

On an individual level, the top scorer of the season was Jovo Lukic, who found the net 18 times. His tally made him the most prolific marksman in the entire division and a key figure in the goalscoring charts, illustrating the importance of clinical forwards in deciding the outcome of such a closely contested league season.

Romanian clubs in Europe

The strong domestic season translated into a significant European presence for Romanian clubs in the 2026-27 campaign. As league champions, Universitatea Craiova earned a place in the UEFA Champions League, giving the Oltenia side the valuable chance to test themselves against some of the strongest and most respected teams on the continent.

Other clubs also secured continental football for the season ahead. Universitatea Cluj qualified for the UEFA Europa League, while both CFR Cluj and FCSB earned places in the UEFA Conference League. This meant that four Romanian clubs in total will represent the country in European competition, a clear sign of the overall health of the domestic game.

Memorable results and the relegation battle

The season produced several notable results along the way. The biggest home win came on July 21, 2025, when Unirea Slobozia thrashed Csikszereda by a score of 6-1. Meanwhile, the biggest away win was recorded on October 19, 2025, when Otelul Galati traveled to UTA Arad and secured a commanding 0-4 victory on the road.

At the other end of the table, the relegation battle ultimately claimed three clubs. Metaloglobus Bucuresti, Unirea Slobozia and Hermannstadt were all relegated from the top division at the end of the campaign. Their departures will reshape the composition of the league for the following season and open the door for the promoted sides.

A season to remember

For Universitatea Craiova, the 2025-26 season will be remembered as one of the finest in the club's entire history. Winning both the league and the cup in a single campaign is a rare achievement in any country, and it underlines the quality and consistency that the team displayed from the opening weeks right through to the final matches.

Looking ahead, the challenge for Craiova and the other qualified clubs will be to carry their domestic form onto the European stage. Competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League offers Romanian football a valuable opportunity to raise its profile and to measure itself against well established sides from across the continent.

Overall, the 2025-26 season confirmed both the strength and the unpredictability of Romanian football. With a dominant champion, a competitive chase for the top places, a wealth of goals and a strong European contingent, the campaign offered plenty for supporters to enjoy. All the figures and results cited here come from official records of the Liga I and Cupa Romaniei competitions.