Universitatea Craiova, after clinching the Superliga title with a convincing 5-0 victory over U Cluj, has set its sights on the UEFA Champions League groups. This ambitious goal comes with a challenging path, requiring the team to navigate through four preliminary rounds.

To reach the Champions League groups, Craiova must first secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League by overcoming several hurdles. With a UEFA coefficient of 10.500 points, Craiova will be a seed in the first preliminary round, potentially facing teams like Levski Sofia, Sabah FK, Kauno Zalgiris, Floriana, or Vardar Skopje.

While Craiova may start as favorites in the early rounds, the true challenge begins in the second round, where they could encounter well-seasoned European teams such as Steaua Roșie Belgrad, Dinamo Zagreb, or Slovan Bratislava. The final hurdle before the group stage could even include a powerhouse like Celtic Glasgow, the Scottish champions.

However, Craiova is no longer the inexperienced team it once was. This season, the club had a solid run in the UEFA Conference League, defeating teams like Sarajevo and Spartak Trnava. They also held their own against strong opponents in the league phase, including Rapid Vienna and Mainz. The team's accumulated experience could prove crucial in this long and tense qualification campaign.

Moreover, the atmosphere at the "Ion Oblemenco" stadium could become one of Craiova's greatest weapons. In numerous European matches, the home crowd has shown that they can pose significant challenges to higher-ranked opponents. "I've been dreaming of this moment since I started playing football. I'm thrilled to have won the championship with my heart team. We made history. Never before has Craiova had such a good team," one player expressed.