Our prediction for this Europa League match:
A spot in the Europa League group stages will be at stake when Steaua and LASK go head to head at Stadionul Steaua on Thursday evening. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg and yet another close encounter is on the cards in Bucharest. Experienced midfielder Valentin Cretu is widely expected to return to the starting XI after coming as a substitute in a 2-0 loss to FC Hermannstadt at the weekend.
The Black and Whites, on the other hand, are on a three-game losing run in the Austrian Bundesliga, meaning that they are low on confidence ahead of the trip to Romania. Anyhow, given their experience in European competitions, we predict that they will hold Steaua to a draw in the second leg. George Bello has joined the likes of Ivan Ljubic and Ibrahim Mustaphain LASK’s recovery room.
Highlighted Team (LASK):
Founded back in 1908, LASK are an Austrian football club that compete in the Bundesliga. Die Laskler play home games at Waldstadion in Pashing. The stadium with the capacity of 7,870 was opened in 1990 and nowadays is known under the name of Raiffeisen Arena. The club, though, welcome their rivals at the 14,000 capacity Linzer Stadion in European competitions.
Back in the 1964/65 season LASK clinched their first and only Austrian Bundesliga trophy, with the team finishing the campaign one point clear of second-placed Rapid Wien. LASK became the first club outside Vienna to win the domestic title and, to make things even better for the fans, die Laskler clinched the domestic cup the same year.
LASK’s home colours are white and violet, whilst they wear black and white when playing on the travels. In the 2018/2029 season LASK booked their place in the Europa League group stages.