Preview: FCSB vs. Olympiacos - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to strengthen their case for a top-eight finish in the League Phase, FCSB will host Olympiacos at Arena Nationala in Bucharest for a Europa League match on Thursday night.

The Red and Blues returned from the international break with a handsome domestic victory on the weekend, whilst Thrylos collected maximum points from their battle against AEK Athens.

---

Match preview

Winning the Romanian Superliga for the first time since 2017 during the 2023-24 campaign, FCSB are now on a mission to claim honours on the continental stage this time around, with the current crop looking to emulate the legendary class of 1985-86, who lifted the European Cup.

Focusing on the modern day, the Red and Blues have made a solid start to life in the revamped League Phase of the Europa League, earning nine points across their opening quartet of fixtures, enjoying successes over Rigas Futbola Skola, PAOK and FC Midtjylland so far this Autumn.

FCSB's only defeat in the Europa League to date arrived at the hostile home of Scottish giants Rangers on October 24, when a brace from Vaclav Cerny - alongside strikes from Tom Lawrence and Hamza Igamane - secured a comfortable four-goal success for Philippe Clement's side.

Despite losing only one of their last 11 league matches, the Red and Blues are currently languishing down in fifth place in the Superliga standings as they look to retain their domestic crown, although Ilias Charalampous's troops are just three points behind early pacesetters Universitatea Cluj.

Helping Romania to UEFA Nations League C promotion earlier this month with a goal against Cyprus, Daniel Birligea is the jewel in the FCSB attack at this moment, with the 24-year-old making the net ripple on eight occasions across 13 club matches so far during the 2024-25 term.

Since a shock one-goal defeat to Asteras Tripolis in the Greek Super League on October 27, Olympiacos have enjoyed a five-game unbeaten run across the league, Greek Cup and Europa League, a spell that includes a share of the spoils last time out on the continental stage prior to the international break.

Finding the net once again in Europe, Moroccan marksman Ayoub El Kaabi opened the scoring for Thrylos at Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki against Rangers, who managed to secure a share of the Europa League points on the road courtesy of a second-half Cyriel Dessers equaliser.

Olympiacos have enjoyed standout victories either side of the international pause, beating second-placed PAOK 3-2 on November 10 before smashing title challengers AEK Athens 4-1 at home on Sunday, with El Kaabi bringing his goal tally to 14 for the campaign after bagging a sensational hat-trick.

Thrylos are on course to earn both domestic and European honours since season after lifting the Conference League in 2023-24, with Thursday's visitors to Bucharest sitting top of the Super League standings and 11th in the Europa League table, just two points behind FCSB in eighth.

A journeyman coach in Spain over the past two decades, Olympiacos manager Jose Luis Mendilibar has added major honours to his respectable CV in recent years, winning the 2022-23 Europa League with La Liga side Sevilla before guiding Thrylos to glory last term in the Conference League.

---

Team News

FCSB are expected to be without the services of Florin Tanase, who is struggling with a muscle injury after scoring in the victory over Midtjylland earlier in the month.

The hosts' options in midfield are further reduced by the absence of Mihai Lixandru, with the 23-year-old a doubt for the visit of the Greeks on Thursday night.

After providing a goal and an assist in the Superliga thrashing of Unirea Slobozia on the weekend, captain Darius Olaru will be striving to put in another valiant display this midweek.

Arriving amid high expectations following his summer switch from Lille on a free transfer, Yusuf Yazici's maiden campaign for Olympiacos has been ended by a serious cruciate ligament injury.

As a result, 17-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas is enjoying an extended run in the Thrylos side, with the midfielder potentially starting behind danger man El Kaabi in Bucharest.

FCSB possible starting lineup: Tarnovanu; Cretu, Ngezana, M Popescu, Radunovic; Alhassan, Edjouma, Sut; O Popescu, Miculescu, Birligea

Olympiacos possible starting lineup: Tzolakis; Rodinel, Restos, Pirola, Ortega; Garcia, Mouzakitis, Costinha, Kostoulas, Martins; El Kaabi

---

We say: FCSB 2-2 Olympiacos

Both competing at the upper end of the Europa League table, we are expecting a competitive match between FCSB and Olympiacos on Thursday night.

It is hard to bet against El Kaabi scoring at least once for the visitors in Bucharest, although we feel that the Red and Blues will be good enough to earn a point.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.