FCSB Vs LASK

After a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg, FCSB and LASK Linz will face off in the decisive second leg of their Europa League playoff tie at Steaua Stadium in Bucharest on Thursday. The outcome of this encounter will determine which team advances to the expanded 36-team Europa League, while the loser will be relegated to the Europa Conference League.

Match Preview

FCSB's aspirations to qualify for the main stage of the Europa League for the first time since their run to the knockout rounds in the 2017-18 season remain alive following their draw with LASK Linz last week. In that encounter, LASK Linz's Adil Taoui broke the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark. However, FCSB equalized just before halftime with a goal from David Miculescu. The second half saw both teams struggle to break through, leading to a cautious stalemate.

Since then, FCSB’s fortunes have declined. They extended their winless streak across all competitions to four matches after a 2-0 defeat to Hermannstadt in the SuperLiga. This loss marked their third defeat in their first six league games of the season, placing them second from the bottom in the table, trailing 10 points behind leaders FC Universitatea Cluj.

Head coach Elias Charalambous hinted that the team's focus on the upcoming Europa League tie might have contributed to their subpar domestic performance. His players seemed distracted, which possibly affected their performance in the league.

Similarly, LASK Linz has faced challenges in the Austrian Bundesliga, having lost three of their first four games of the new season. Last weekend, they were defeated 2-1 by Austria Wien. Marin Ljubicic had given LASK a 19th-minute lead, but Maurice Malone equalized almost immediately, and Austria Wien secured the win with an 87th-minute goal from Manfred Fischer.

LASK's coach, Thomas Darazs, expressed dissatisfaction with his team's performance and is eager to see how his players respond under pressure. The upcoming match is crucial for LASK, who are aiming to qualify for the Europa League group stage for the fourth time in their history and the second consecutive season, following their participation in the 2023-24 group stage.

As both teams head into this decisive second leg, the stakes are high. FCSB will be keen to leverage their home advantage and turn their form around, while LASK Linz will look to regain their winning touch and secure their place in the Europa League. The outcome of this match will not only determine their European aspirations but also provide a significant boost to their morale as they navigate their domestic and continental commitments.