LASK**
LASK enters the final stage of the Europa League qualifiers, having secured their spot by finishing third in last season’s Austrian Bundesliga. Skipping the earlier rounds presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
While LASK is just one step away from the group stage, they face a tough opponent. The start of their new domestic season has been inconsistent. After an initial victory against Hartberg (2-1), LASK has stumbled with consecutive losses to Altach (1-2) and Salzburg (0-1), indicating a need for greater stability.
**FCSB**
FCSB, commonly known as Steaua Bucharest, has advanced to this stage after successfully navigating several rounds of qualification. The Romanian club began their European campaign in July with a strong performance in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Virtus from San Marino (7-1 in the first leg and 4-0 in the return) and Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel (1-1 and 1-0).
However, FCSB’s luck ran out against Sparta Prague, where a 1-1 draw in the first leg was followed by a 2-3 defeat, relegating them to the Europa League qualifiers. In the current Romanian league season, FCSB has played five matches, securing only one win and currently sits in 13th place. Most recently, they suffered a home defeat to Politehnica Iași (0-1).
