FCSB vs Virtus

FCSB and Virtus are set to trade tackles in a one-sided Champions League qualifying tie at Stadionul Steaua.

Formerly named Steaua Bucuresti, FCSB are the ex-European champions, having lifted the European Cup crown in 1985/86. Though the club’s glory days are long gone, they’re knocking on the door of their first Champions League group stage appearance since 2013/14 following an emphatic 7-1 first-leg triumph in San Marino. Despite following up that result with a home draw at the start of their domestic championship, they’ll take the field in high spirits after avoiding defeat in all three competitive games in 2024/25 (W2, D1). Odds-on to produce another memorable scoreline, the Romanian giants are in pole position to arrest a three-game winless home streak in European football (D1, L2). They alarmingly conceded 2+ goals in all three matches, yet barring some unheard-of scenes in Bucharest, they should steamroll to another routine victory.

A 7-1 home demolition wasn’t the best way to introduce themselves to continental football, yet Virtus never stood a chance in this match-up. Despite lifting their first-ever Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio title in 2023/24, the visitors don’t have the quality or experience to navigate demanding European challenges. Considering a substantial gulf in class and the level of their domestic championships and the continental front, Virtus’ formidable run of six consecutive away wins counts for nothing. But five clean sheets during that six-game sequence at least gives Luigi Bizzotto’s charges hope that they could avoid another disastrous result, even though that’s more like wishful thinking.