Aberdeen vs FCSB Prediction: Daniel can disrupt Dons defence

Aberdeen host FCSB at Pittodrie on Thursday (19:45 BST, BBC Scotland) in the first leg of their Uefa Europa League play-off tie. The winner will advance to the league phase of the competition, which starts next month.

Below are my Aberdeen vs FCSB predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Aberdeen, who prop up the Scottish Premiership after losing their first two games of the season 2-0 to Hearts and Celtic, secured a confidence-boosting 3-0 victory at Greenock Morton in the last 16 of the League Cup last Saturday, and head coach Jimmy Thelin could name a similar starting XI on Thursday.

Australian striker Kusini Yengi got off the mark for his new side at Cappielow Park, and he could lead the line again for the Dons.

Football Odds

Yengi should be joined in attack once more by fellow summer arrivals Nicolas Milanovic and Adil Aouchiche.

Meanwhile, Leighton Clarkson, who scored off the bench in Morton, Graeme Shinnie and Nicky Devlin could all earn recalls to the starting XI.

Emmanuel Gyamfi and Kristers Tobers (both unspecified) remain injured.

FCSB made seven changes to their starting XI for last Sunday's 2-2 Superliga draw at Rapid Bucuresti, but could revert to the same side that lined up in the second leg of their Europa League third-round qualifying tie at Drita last week, when they won 3-1.

Today's Football Fixtures

Florin Tanase, who served the final match of his three-game European ban against Drita in Kosovo, could start, though, as he is one of FCSB's most influential players.

Aberdeen vs FCSB Odds

Aberdeen are 7/5 to take a lead to Bucharest next week, implying a 41.7% probability of success, while FCSB are 9/5, or a 35.7% chance, to claim the spoils in Scotland. The draw is priced at 11/5, and both teams to score at 8/11.

Yengi (11/5) heads the anytime goalscorer market, with Daniel Birligea (23/10), who bagged a brace in FCSB's first-leg victory over Drita (3-2) earlier this month, first up for the visitors.

Both Teams To Score - Yes @ 8/11

Aberdeen scored their first goals of the season on Saturday against Morton, having blanked in their first two games against Hearts and Celtic. Not much can be read into a victory over a second-tier Scottish side, but likewise, it should be highlighted that their opening two matches were two of the most difficult that they could expect.

We'll be able to build a better picture after Thursday's first leg, but even now, I'm still happy to predict the Dons to score - and concede - against FCSB.

There's plenty of attacking talent in this team, with Australian duo Yengi and Milanovic both prolific goalscorers at a certain level. Yengi proved his credentials in the third tier of English football with Portsmouth, while Milanovic starred for Western Sydney Wanderers Down Under, and will now hope to replicate his numbers for Aberdeen.

There's also on-loan Sunderland attacker Aouchiche, who should help to provide some creativity alongside Shayden Morris, who registered six assists in the Premiership last season.

Aberdeen shipped 61 goals in the league, though, with only the bottom five teams conceding more in 2024/25, and FCSB will sense vulnerabilities on Thursday.

FCSB have scored in five of their six European games this season, but are yet to keep a continental clean sheet.

Backing both teams to find the net at Pittodrie, then, may be the best bet.

Anytime Goalscorer - Daniel Birligea (FCSB) @ 23/10

Romania international Birligea, who scored 17 goals in 35 appearances for FCSB last season, including three in nine European outings, has made a strong start to the current campaign.

The 25-year-old has netted three times in six games, bagging a brace against Drita in the first leg of his side's qualifier on August 7, before coming off the bench at the start of the second half last Sunday and scoring 16 minutes later.

He's the visitors' most likely goalscorer on Thursday, and given I'm backing both teams to score, it makes sense to pick out a player in the anytime market.

I think Birligea can take advantage of a confidence-stricken Dons defence here.

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