Q. When is FCSB vs Olympiacos?

Matchday five of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League season will include Romanian outfit, FCSB hosting Olympiacos on Thursday evening. The Europa League is the world’s second most prestigious continental club competition; consequently, all the participants will be eager to prove their worth. The top eight teams in the league stage will directly qualify for the knockout stages while the rest of the eight sides will be determined through a series of playoffs. The hosts sit in the eighth spot currently while Olympiacos occupy the 11ᵗʰ place.

FCSB will be content with how the recent matches have played out. In the last six matches, the club has managed four victories to go with a draw and a defeat. FCSB is in fifth place in the Romanian league, scoring 27 points from 17 games, just three off the summit. The side will be content with the progress so far in the Europa League with nine points from four matches. FCSB has some challenging encounters to negate in the upcoming rounds and hence will look to take all three points against Olympiacos at home.

Olympiacos is unbeaten in five matches. The club last tasted defeat at the end of October which has enabled it to maintain a slender one-point cushion at the top of the Greek Super League. Olympiacos has faced the likes of Lyon, Malmo, Braga, and Rangers already in the Europa League and will be confident in tackling the upcoming challenges. The side is the most successful Greek outfit of all time, having lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League title last season.

FCSB Team News

The Romanian giants will have only two absentees on Thursday evening. Florin Tanase and Mihai Lixandru are both recovering from muscle injuries. The latter can still hope for a call if the club doctors give their approval.

Olympiacos Team News

Jose Luis Mendibilar for Olympiacos (Credit: Getty Images)

Yusuf Yazici is the only name on Olympiacos’s injury list. Unfortunately, the attacker suffered an ACL injury in October and will not be able to take part for the rest of the campaign.

FCSB vs Olympiacos Predicted Lineups

FCSB Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Tarnovanu

Defenders: Cretu, Ngezana, Dawa, Pantiru

Midfielders: Chiriches, Sut, Olaru

Forwards: Stefanescu, Birligea, Musi

Olympiacos Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Tzolakis

Defenders: Rodinei, Retsos, Carmo, Ortega

Midfielders: Garcia, Mouzakitis, Kostoulas

Forwards: Chiquinho, Martins, El Kaabi

FCSB vs Olympiacos H2H Record

FCSB and Olympiacos have squared up once in the past. It was a friendly encounter held in 2010 with the Romanian side taking the spoils with a 1-0 victory. Times have changed since then and it will be a completely different ball game this time around.

Result	Date and Competition
Olympiacos 0-1 FCSB	2010, Club Friendlies

Key Players to Watch in FCSB vs Olympiacos

Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos)

Olympiacos’ success and rich run of form this season can be attributed to the splendid performances of Ayoub El Kaabi. The 31-year-old is a Moroccan international and is fielded as the striker for his team. El Kaabi has 14 goals this season already with 10 of them coming in the Greek Super League. He has also played his part as a creative force, assisting two goals. El Kaabi will be required to pin the centre-backs and also act as the ultimate outlet for Olympiacos.

FCSB vs Olympiacos Prediction

When it comes to individual quality, there is little to separate the two clubs. The tactical prowess of the two coaches will most likely decide the winners on Thursday.