Aberdeen will look to qualify for the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night as they travel to Bucharest to take on Romanian champions FCSB in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie.
Aberdeen endured a nightmare start to the first leg at Pittodrie last Thursday, as they trailed 0-2 after just 47 minutes, the second of which arrived when the visiting Romanians were reduced to 10 men.
However, Ante Palaversa pulled one back just past the hour mark, before Ester Sokler equalised on the 90th minute for Jimmy Thelin’s men, leaving the tie firmly in the balance in Bucharest on Thursday night.
The Dons have endured a tough start to their domestic campaign, losing each of their opening two Premiership matches away at Hearts and at home to Celtic by a 0-2 scoreline, but did advance to the quarter finals of the League Cup thanks to a 0-3 victory away at Championship side Greenock Morton.
Elias Charalambous’s visitors have also endured a miserable start to their domestic campaign, picking up just five points from their opening seven Liga I encounters (W1-D2-L4).
The Red and Blues were dumped out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round by North Macedonia side KF Shkendija, but knocked out Kosovans FK Drita 6-3 on aggregate in the previous round.
How the bookies view it: FCSB favourites
FCSB have been installed as favourites by the bookmakers, with BoyleSports pricing the Romanian champions at 7/10 to get the job done inside 90 minutes.
The same firm has The Dons at 14/5 to win in normal time, whilst it's 13/5 for the tie to go to extra time.
Head to head: Second-ever meeting
The 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last Thursday was the first time these two clubs have faced each other, with their second encounter taking place at the Arena Nationala on Thursday night.
Players to watch: Birlegia to bag again?
Daniel Birligea was FCSB’s top scorer last season, scoring 19 goals in the league and Europe. The Romanian international scored twice at home to Drita in the previous round, and the opener at Pittodrie last week, and is an appealing 9/5 at PaddyPower to net once again on Thursday.
Predicted line-ups:
FCSB will obviously be without Juri Cisotti following his red card at Pittodrie in the first leg last week, whilst defenders Joyskim Dawa and Ionut Cercel are out through injury.
The Dons appear to have a fully fit squad for their trip to the Romanian capital.
FCSB: Tarnovanu, Cretu, Graovac, Popescu, Pantea, Chiriches, Sut, Miculescu, Olaru, Tanase, Birligea
Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Dorrington, Milne, Molloy, Palaversa, Nilsen, Milanovic, Keskinen, Aouchiche, Sokler
Anything else catch the eye?
The first leg was an open encounter at Pittodrie last week, and I’m expecting more of the same when these two meet in the Romanian capital on Thursday.
Goals have been a feature in FCSB’s European qualifiers this season, with their seven contests in Europe averaging an impressive 3.43 goals per game, with Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals paying out in six (86%) of them.
Both Teams to Score pays 10/13 at Unibet, whilst Over 2.5 Goals pays 5/6 with the same firm, and both selections appeal, whilst combining the two pays a juicier 23/20 at BoyleSports.
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