### LASK
LASK enters their European campaign at the final stage of the Europa League qualifiers, having secured this spot by finishing third in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. While bypassing the earlier qualifying rounds could be seen as both a benefit and a potential challenge.
LASK is now just one step away from the group stage, but they face a tough opponent. The new domestic season hasn’t gone smoothly for LASK; after a victory in their opening match against Hartberg (2-1), they suffered consecutive losses to Altach (1-2) and Salzburg (0-1). These results indicate that the team is still searching for consistency.
### FCSB
FCSB, also known as Steaua Bucharest, reached this stage after progressing through several qualification rounds. The Romanian club began their European journey in July, starting in the UEFA Champions League, where they easily overcame Virtus from San Marino (7-1 in the first leg and 4-0 in the return) and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-1 and 1-0).
However, their luck turned against Sparta Prague. Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, FCSB lost 2-3 in the return leg, which dropped them into the Europa League qualifiers. In the current Romanian league season, FCSB has played five matches but secured just one win, currently sitting in 13th place. Over the weekend, FCSB suffered a home defeat to Politehnica Iași (0-1).
