FCSB vs Shkendija Prediction: Red and Blues ready to progress

Adamu Alhassan's 65th-minute goal means North Macedonian champions Shkendija take a 1-0 lead to Romania, where they take on FCSB in the second leg of their second qualifying round of the Champions League on Wednesday (18:30 BST). The hosts have a storied European Cup history, but affairs both on and off the field mean it has been decades since they have made any real impact on continental football.

However, with Qarabag, who lead Shelbourne 3-0, the most likely opponents in the next stage, there is a chance of making it into the play-offs. Skendjia should not be underestimated, but the Red and Blues have the individual quality to pull their side through when required. Below are my FCSB vs Shkendija predictions, alongside team news and match odds.

Team News

FCSB will be unable to call upon striker Florin Tanase following his sending off at the National Arena Toshe Proeski, and his place is expected to go to David Miculescu.

Alexandru Pantea is a doubt with a muscle issue, but Octavian Popescu is out.

Shkendija also have a player missing through suspension after key midfielder Kamer Qaka was dismissed last week, and match-winner Alhassan could be promoted from the bench.

FCSB vs Shkendija Odds

FCSB are the massive 1/5 favourites to win in 90 minutes, with the draw 5/1 and Shkendija 17/2, or a 10.5% chance.

The Romanian champions are 1/3 to win the tie, with their North Macedonian counterparts 9/4 to progress.

FCSB to win and both teams to score @ 13/8

FCSB have had a poor start to their Liga 1 defence, taking only four points from their first four games, but they may be preoccupied with trying to make progress in Europe.

Elias Charalambous' side beat Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes over two legs, just about doing enough to progress 4-3 after losing the second leg in Encamp.

They had earlier won 3-1 in Bucharest and will be targeting another big home performance against Shkendija, who needed extra time to overcome The New Saints.

Today's Football Fixtures

The Ballists will not be intimidated by playing at the cauldron-like Arena Nationala, especially with a sparse crowd predominantly made up of die-hard fans who can turn on their heroes when things aren't going well.

An early goal for Jeton Bekjiri's visitors would really shake things up, but FCSB were 2-0 up at the break against Inter in the last round before going 3-0 and then conceding after the hour.

Another 3-1 result is handily priced at 17/2, and the home win and both teams to score looks a sensible outcome to pursue.

Over 3.5 goals @ 11/10

That brings the 11/10 for over 3.5 goals into play and is a handy price.

As mentioned, it landed in FCSB's home game in the previous round, and it landed in three of the home team's last four ties at the national stadium.

Shkendija kept a clean sheet in the first game, but the visitors won the shot count 19-9, and goals are likely to be part of the occasion in Bucharest.

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