Preview: Aberdeen vs FCSB - prediction, team news, lineups

Aberdeen and FCSB will begin their battle for a spot in the Europa League league phase on Thursday, when they meet at Pittodrie Stadium in the first leg of their playoff round tie.

The hosts enter qualifying at this stage, while their visitors progressed through the third round after dropping out of contention for a Champions League spot.

Match preview

Aberdeen will kick off their European campaign on Thursday aiming to take a step towards the Europa League league phase, having missed out last year after last appearing in the Europa Conference League league phase in the 2023-24 term.

They booked their place in the final round of qualifying for Europe's secondary competition by winning a first piece of domestic silverware since 2014 last time around, beating Celtic in a penalty shootout to win an eighth Scottish Cup after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes thanks to a Kasper Schmeichel own goal.

Jimmy Thelin's side head into continental action on the back of a tough start to their new season, though, having started their Scottish Premiership campaign with back-to-back defeats after a fifth-placed finish last time around, firstly losing 2-0 in a trip to Hearts on the opening day.

Celtic's Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate then condemned the Dons to a 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie Stadium, but they were able to record a first win of the campaign last time around, visiting second-tier Greenock Morton in the Scottish League Cup second round and progressing with a 3-0 triumph thanks to goals from Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Kusini Yengi and Leighton Clarkson.

Aberdeen will now bid to build on that away victory and take an aggregate lead in Thursday's home leg to move within touching distance of the Europa League league phase.

Their visitors, meanwhile, head to Scotland to begin their fourth continental tie of the season with their sights set on a league-phase spot.

After winning the Romanian top flight for the second straight season and the 28th time in their history last time around, FCSB began their latest European bid in Champions League qualifying, eventually dropping out in the second round at the hands of Shkendija after scraping past Inter Club d'Escaldes.

Then two rounds away from the league phase of the continent's secondary competition, the Ros-albastrii most recently met Drita in the Europa League second qualifying round and progressed in style, winning 3-2 on home turf and 3-1 away in the second leg thanks to goals from Juri Cisotti, David Miculescu and Dennis Politic.

Ilias Charalambous's side then returned to domestic action in a trip to rivals Rapid Bucuresti at the weekend, but they were only able to leave with a point despite leading 2-0 through Mihai Lixandru and Daniel Birligea as Elvir Koljic netted a late brace with the leveller coming in the 92nd minute.

With that draw extending a four-match winless run in their title defence, FCSB will now bid to get back to winning ways in continental qualifying and take the lead before next week's home leg with a league-phase place on the line.

Aberdeen form (all competitions):

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FCSB Europa League form:

FCSB form (all competitions):

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Team News

Aberdeen should field a similar starting XI to Saturday's cup win over Greenock Morton, with defenders Emmanuel Gyamfi and Kristers Tobers remaining sidelined by injuries.

One change should come in midfield, though, with captain Graeme Shinnie likely to return and rejoin Sivert Heltne Nilsen, having been rested at the weekend, although Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa will also compete for spots in the engine room.

Ahead of them, Sunderland loanee Adil Aouchiche will hope to again operate behind lone striker Kusini Yengi, who opened his account for the Dons on Saturday.

FCSB should revert to a similar starting lineup from their 3-1 away win over Drita in the previous round of Europa League qualifying last week, having rotated for the weekend's meeting with Rapid Bucuresti.

Key man Florin Tanase did return to the starting XI last time out after missing that tie, though, and he could play an important role going forward having managed four goals in six league games so far this term.

Daniel Birligea should lead the attack after topping their scoring charts with 17 goals in 35 appearances last time around, while Juri Cisotti and David Miculescu both got on the scoresheet from the wings in the Ros-albastrii's last European outing.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Jensen, Dorrington, Milne, Devlin; Shinnie, Nilsen; Milanovic, Aouchiche, Keskinen; Yengi

FCSB possible starting lineup:

Tarnovanu; Cretu, Ngezana, Popescu, Pantea; Chiriches, Sut; Miculescu, Tanase, Cisotti; Birligea

We say: Aberdeen 1-1 FCSB

FCSB have already shown their ability to compete on the continental stage this season, and we back them to hold an Aberdeen side who have suffered a slow start to the season on Thursday ahead of next week's home leg in Romania.

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