LASK competes for Europa League qualification

That the Linz team will be represented in a European main competition for the fifth time in the past six years is already certain. For the fourth time, after 2019, 2020, and 2023, the Athletiker are now aiming to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, where the new league format would guarantee at least eight matches.

To achieve this, they need an away win in Bucharest after the draw in the first leg. Another draw would lead to extra time or even a penalty shootout, as the away goals rule is no longer in effect. Since their European comeback in 2018 against Lillestrøm, LASK has won five of their seven knockout duels, including last season's against Zrinjski Mostar. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Black and Whites secured their place in the Conference League in 2021 with a 2-0 away victory against St. Johnstone in the play-off.

In the national championship, neither team has achieved the desired results so far. The reigning champion, FCSB, is currently in 15th place in Romania's Liga 1 after six rounds. Over the weekend, they suffered a 2-0 defeat against FC Hermannstadt. Compared to the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the play-off at Raiffeisen Arena, coach Ilias Charalampous made six changes to his starting lineup. LASK coach Thomas Darazs introduced three new players during the late 2-1 loss against Austria Vienna.

The match against FCSB will take place at Stadionul Steaua, located in the western part of the Romanian capital. The newly opened arena, which debuted in 2021 in the Ghencea district, has a capacity of 31,254. This year, UEFA Champions League qualifying matches drew crowds of 28,875 against Sparta Prague and 26,235 against Maccabi Tel Aviv, while 7,262 fans attended the match against AC Virtus. For LASK, this will be their second appearance in Romania, following their encounter with Steaua Bucharest in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 1999.

UEL, Play-off, Second Leg
Thu, 29.08.2024, 8:30 PM (CEST)
FCSB Bucharest - LASK
Stadionul Steaua, Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)

Unavailable: Lawal, Zulj, Smolcic, Ljubic, Mustapha, Flecker, Entrup, Andrade

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