Romanian champions FCSB are set to host Danish champions FC Midtjylland in their fourth Europa League game of the season on Thursday at Arena Nationala.
The home team are 13th with six points in the Europa League table and lost 4-0 against Rangers on October 24, while the visitors are seventh with seven points after three matchweeks and beat Union SG 1-0 on October 24.
Match preview
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FCSB were thoroughly outplayed by Rangers in their last Europa League outing given they created no big chances and produced just seven shots in contrast to their opponents' two big chances and 23 shots.
To their credit, the hosts were dominant during their 4-1 win in their first match of the competition against RFS in late September, and they also managed to hold onto a 1-0 lead against PAOK in their second game on October 3 despite being reduced to 10 men after 56 minutes.
The Red and Blues are currently sixth in the Romanian top flight with 21 points from 14 league matches, and should they win their game in hand on leaders Universitatea Cluj, they will be six points from first place.
Boss Ilias Charalampous's side have won three, drawn one and lost two of their six most recent Europa League games, conceding eight goals and scoring on seven occasions in that time.
FCSB have earned just one victory from their last four games, drawing twice and being defeated once, though they did win the prior five matches.
Charalampous's team have proven difficult to beat in recent weeks at Arena Nationala considering they have prevailed in four and drawn two of their last six fixtures at home.
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Opponents Midtjylland took the lead against Union SG in the 18th minute thanks to Ousmane Diao, whose goal was their 10th shot of the match.
The Danish champions only had five attempts in the remainder of that game, but despite USG producing 12 of their 13 shots after Diao's goal, Bonderne held on to claim all three points.
Manager Thomas Thomasberg will be pleased that his team lead the way in the Danish top flight with 27 points from a possible 42, though they are only one point clear of second-placed AGF and third-placed Copenhagen.
Thomasberg's side have lost four and won two of their six most recent matches, conceding 11 goals and scoring six times in that period.
The visitors have also fallen short in their last three away games and have triumphed in just three of their last 13 fixtures on the road in the Europa League, losing six and drawing four.
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Team News
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The hosts are likely to start Stefan Tarnovanu in goal, and he may be shielded by centre-backs Mihai Popescu and Joyskim Dawa.
Malcom Edjouma could be joined in a midfield three by Adrian Sut and Alexandru Baluta, while Mihai Lixandru is ruled out as a result of injury.
Winger Octavian Popescu was forced off last time out against Universitatea Craiova on November 3, so perhaps FCSB will field a frontline consisting of David Miculescu, Alexandru Pantea and Daniel Birligea.
The Danish side come into the clash without suspended midfielder Emiliano Martinez, while wide player Aral Simsir will also miss out.
Marrony is expected to be unavailable for a few more days, though Edward Chilufya, Gue-Sung Cho, Paulinho and Victor Lind have a chance to feature on Thursday.
Mikel Gogorza could start in place of Simsir, while Kristoffer Askildsen may come in for Martinez, and he is likely to be partnered in midfield by Oliver Sorensen.
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Cretu, Popescu, Dawa, Radunovic; Edjouma, Sut, Baluta; Miculescu, Birligea, Birligea
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Olafsson; Mbabu, Diao, B Sorensen, Andersson; Osorio, O Sorensen, Askildsen, Gogorza; Buksa, Kuchta
We say: FCSB 2-1 FC Midtjylland
Midtjylland do not boast the strongest away record in the Europa League, and given their struggles of late, it would not be surprising if they dropped points on the road once again.
Additionally, FCSB have been difficult to beat at home, and they should come into Thursday's clash as favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
