The final hurdle before the Europa League group stage brings together two sides who have both stumbled badly in their domestic campaigns, Aberdeen and FCSB. Victory here would not only boost their European prospects but also their morale.
Aberdeen
Unlike last season, Aberdeen have made a poor start. A year ago they opened the Scottish Premiership with seven straight wins, but this time around they began with two defeats. Losing to Celtic (0:2) is understandable, but a 0:2 reverse against Heart of Midlothian, who finished seventh last term, was a real setback. Aberdeen were at least spared the need to rush their preparation, only entering European competition at this stage.
FCSB
FCSB, by contrast, are already well into their season with six league fixtures and three European qualifying rounds behind them. Domestically, they have been inconsistent, sitting 12th in the Romanian Superliga with just one win. Their European hopes were also dented early by elimination from the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of North Macedonia’s Shkëndija (0:1, 1:2). Few expected that. Still, Elias Charalambous has guided the Bucharest club to back-to-back league titles after a nine-year drought, which buys him some credit.
Aberdeen vs FCSB Prediction
But who to back here when both are losing more often than not? And with defeats come a lack of goals. When two struggling sides meet, the safest bet is on a low-scoring affair.
