FCSB will host Rigas Futbola Skola at the Arena Nationala on Thursday for matchday one of the 2024-25 Europa League, with both aiming to get off to the perfect start to their league phase campaign.
The hosts successfully qualified for the Europa League for the first time since 2017-18, while the visitors will be making just their second appearance in a European competition.
Match preview
FCSB finally ended their eight-year wait for a league title last season, the longest title drought in their history, as they finished three points clear of second-placed CFR Cluj in the championship round.
That success allowed the club to compete for a spot in the Champions League, a tournament they hadn't entered since their 2013-14 group stage exit, but they were narrowly defeated by Sparta Praha 4-3 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, forcing them to aim for a place in Europe's second-tier tournament.
The Red and Blues were given a tough matchup in the Europa League playoff round, coming up against a LASK side that have regularly featured in European competitions in recent history.
However, FCSB were able to get over the line and qualify for the league phase of the tournament thanks to a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory, courtesy of a dramatic 93rd-minute winner from Darius Olaru in the second leg.
That has been one of the few positive moments for Elias Charalambous's side this season, as FCSB currently sit 13th in the Romanian Super Liga, having accumulated just 10 points from nine matches with two wins, four draws, and three defeats.
Their form has shown slight improvement in recent outings, currently undefeated in their last three league fixtures with one win and two draws, marking an upturn from their record of one victory and two draws in the opening six games.
Charalambous will be hoping his side can extend their unbeaten run when they host RFS on Thursday, though their opponents are likely to prove a challenging test given their fabulous campaign thus far.
Unlike their hosts, RFS are already 29 games into the Latvian league season, and they currently sit atop the division with an impressive 75 points, having achieved 24 wins, three draws and only two defeats.
Holding a six-point lead at the top of the standings and a game in hand on several teams below them, RFS are in the driving seat to win their third league title in four years, an incredible feat for a club that was only established just eight years ago.
Viktors Morozs, who has been at the helm since February 2020 and led the club to both of their only league titles to date, has already made history this year by qualifying for the Europa League for the first time, with their only previous European appearance coming in the Europa Conference League in 2022-23.
Morozs will be set on making more history by securing their first win outside of the qualifying rounds on Thursday night, while he will also be striving to advance to the knockout stages for the first time.
Owing to their 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions, since a 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in their Champions League second qualifying round second leg, RFS are sure to be full of confidence heading into this matchup.
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Team News
The hosts will be without Siyabonga Ngezana for this match due to a muscle injury that is likely to keep him out of the side until late next month.
Mihai Lixandru is also expected to be sidelined, with the midfielder yet to make an appearance since coming off with an injury concern in the 60th minute against UTA Arad at the beginning of September.
Elsewhere, Charalambous could field the same team that started their 1-0 victory against LASK in the second leg of their Europa League playoff round tie, with goalscorer Olaru anticipated to play behind the striker.
RFS could be without the services of up to four players for their first-ever Europa League match, with Darko Lemajic, Emerson Deocleciano, Ismael Diomande and Petr Mares all unlikely to feature.
Morozs could name a similar side that narrowly defeated APOEL Nicosia on penalties in their Europa League playoff round for this one, with Janis Ikaunieks starting behind a strike partnership of Alain Cedric Herve Kouadio and Rostand Ndjiki.
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Cretu, Popescu, Dawa, Radunovic; Sut, Alhassan; Baluta, Olaru, Miculescu; Tanase
Rigas Futbola Skola possible starting lineup:
Ondoa; Prenga, Balodis, Lipuscek; Savalnieks, Markhiyev, Panic, Odisharia; Ikaunieks; Ndjiki, Kouadio
We say: FCSB 2-1 Rigas Futbola Skola
Despite the hosts having an undeniably poor start to their league season, while the visitors have enjoyed an impressive campaign to date, FCSB remain the stronger side, highlighted by already eliminating Maccabi Tel Aviv and LASK from European competition this year.
With FCSB also boasting the advantage of playing at home, we expect the hosts to secure a victory in the opening match of the 2024-25 Europa League.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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