**LASK**
LASK starts their European journey 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 offers both advantages and challenges, the team is now just one step away from the group stage.
However, they face a tough opponent. The new domestic season has been shaky for LASK; after a victory in their opening match against Hartberg (2-1), they have suffered consecutive defeats to Altach (1-2) and Salzburg (0-1), indicating a need for greater consistency.
**FCSB**
FCSB, also known as Steaua Bucharest, reached this stage after progressing through several qualification rounds. The Romanian club began their European campaign in July, starting in the UEFA Champions League, where they convincingly defeated 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, FCSB’s fortune changed against Sparta Prague, where a 1-1 draw in the first leg was followed by a 2-3 defeat, dropping them into the Europa League qualifiers. In the current Romanian league season, FCSB has played five matches but has only managed one win, leaving them in 13th place. Most recently, they suffered a home loss to Politehnica Iași (0-1).
**Interesting Facts and Head-to-Head History**
The teams previously met in the UEFA Cup during the 1999/2000 season, with Steaua winning both encounters. In two of their last three matches, the bet on “Both Teams to Score” has paid off. Additionally, the “Total Over 2.5 Goals” bet has succeeded in two of the last three matches.
