LASK enters the European competition at the final stage of the Europa League qualifiers, having secured this position by finishing third in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. While bypassing the earlier qualifying rounds can be advantageous, it also presents its own challenges.
LASK is now just one step away from reaching the group stage, but they face a tough opponent. The start of the new domestic season has been rocky for LASK; after a 2-1 victory over Hartberg in their opening match, they suffered consecutive losses to Altach (1-2) and Salzburg (0-1), highlighting their need for greater consistency.
**FCSB**
FCSB, also known as Steaua Bucharest, reached this stage after progressing through several rounds of qualification. The Romanian club began their European campaign in July, starting in the UEFA Champions League, where they easily defeated Virtus from San Marino (7-1 in the first leg and 4-0 in the second) and then faced Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, drawing 1-1 in the first leg and winning 1-0 in the second.
However, FCSB faced disappointment against Sparta Prague. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they were narrowly defeated 2-3 in the return leg, which led them to the Europa League qualifiers. In the current Romanian league season, FCSB has played five matches but managed just one win, leaving them in 13th place. Over the weekend, they suffered a home loss to Politehnica Iași (0-1).
