Petrolul Ploiesti suffered a heavy 0-4 home defeat to CS Universitatea Craiova in the Romanian Super Liga on January 20, 2026. The visitors put on a clinical display, ruthlessly exposing Petrolul's defensive frailties to secure a comprehensive victory that boosted their European qualification hopes. Craiova took the lead early and never looked back, adding a second before halftime to take full control. The second half saw more of the same, with Craiova scoring two more goals, including a penalty, to complete the rout. Petrolul Ploiesti offered little threat throughout, managing only a handful of tame efforts on goal. The heavy loss was a significant setback for Petrolul's season, leaving them looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone, while Craiova climbed the table with an impressive goal difference boost. The Petrolul manager called the performance "unacceptable," while the Craiova coach praised his team's "ruthless efficiency."