What Aberdeen can expect from super-confident FCSB

Ex-Hearts defender Mihai Popescu is a key man for FCSB

Aberdeen v FCSB in Europa League qualifying

Date: Thursday, 21 August Venue: Pittodrie Stadium Kick-off: 19:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC Scotland and BBC Sport website from 19:30, live text commentary on the website

Controversial FCSB owner Gigi Becali caused a bit of a stir in the north-east of Scotland after his club set up a Europa League play-off against Aberdeen.

Becali is so confident of his club progressing that he has apparently already accounted for the money his side will rake in for reaching the league phase of a tournament they performed well in last season.

Whether Dons boss Jimmy Thelin is the kind of manager who pins disparaging remarks made from the opposition camp to his changing room wall is unknown, but they have certainly added some edge to the tie.

The confidence emanating from the Romanian champions belies what has been a poor start to the season domestically and continentally.

They have won just once in their six league openers and were humbled by North Macedonians - and former Aberdeen foes - Shkendija in Champions League qualifying after narrowly squeezing past minnows Inter Club D'Escaldes of Andorra, a tie in which they embarrassingly lost the second leg.

They then had to come from 2-0 down at half-time in the first leg of the third qualifying round for this tournament against Kosovan champions Drita to secure their play-off berth.

Amid the tepid start to their title defence, former Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong endeared himself to the Dinamo Bucharest fans by knocking in a spectacular hat-trick in the 'Eternal Derby' at the start of the month in a 4-3 victory over FCSB not long after his move to the Romanian capital.

However, none of that has got in the way of the confidence oozing out of the country, with pundit Florin Prunea - who kept goal at the 1994 World Cup as they reached the quarter finals - giving the Dons no chance.

"FCSB qualification, no problems, 100%, qualification without problems," he said.

"Two wins, both away and at home. FCSB will score at least two goals at Aberdeen."

The reality is that both clubs will be content with the draw, given Aberdeen could easily have landed a more challenging match-up themselves.

FCSB looked dangerous against Drita but were suspect in defence and that vulnerability will be what Thelin will hope to capitalise on at a full Pittodrie on Thursday evening.

The Romanians are former European Cup winners, one of just two from Eastern Europe to lift the trophy, when they were more widely known as Steaua Bucharest.

Their success on penalties in Seville in 1986 against a Barcelona side with former Dons striker Steve Archibald in their number was seismic. They also reached the final three years later before running into a star-studded AC Milan.

Since then they have struggled to make an impact on the European stage, although an 11th placed finish in last season's League Phase saw them reach the last 16 before being well beaten by Lyon.

They were hammered 4-0 by Rangers at Ibrox on a rare off night last term, losing only four of their 14 Europa League matches, starting with success at this stage against LASK.

Who are FCSB's players to watch?

FCSB have recent pedigree and in Romania striker Daniel Birligea they have a man who scored 21 times last season and has continued that form into this campaign.

In midfielder Juri Cisotti, they have a 32-year-old who is hitting his best in his twilight playing years, with Bicali confident the Italian could be the difference against the Dons.

Captain and attacking midfielder Darius Olaru, who played at Euro 2024 for Romania, dictates play while former Heart of Midlothian and St Mirren defender Mihai Popescu has forced himself into the international reckoning this year during the latter part of his career.

The club waited nine years for league title success but have just gone back-to-back despite their troubles early on this term. Last year began in a similar fashion before they roared to the finish line with an unbeaten run of 24 Liga 1 matches.

Another recent addition to both FCSB and the national team has been striker Dennis Politic, who was brought in from Dinamo Bucharest in the summer and has already been seduced by the confidence of his chairman.

"It will be a tough match against Aberdeen, but the boys on the team beat much tougher opponents last year. We have to go modestly from the first match, motivated, so I don't think we will have any problems."

If that last line isn't pinned up by Thelin, it will surely be mentioned in dispatches in the build-up to what is a huge match for the Scottish Cup winners.

Are they ready?