Anderlecht take on FCSB at Lotto Park in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
The home side could move up to second in the group with a win, while the away side need three points to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Match preview
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Anderlecht started their European campaign in decent fashion, defeating Silkeborg 1-0 at home in their opening match before drawing 0-0 in their first game against FCSB away in Bucharest.
However, two consecutive losses to the confirmed Group B winners West Ham United leaves Purple and White third in the standings, two points behind Silkeborg in second.
First-half goals from Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen fired the Hammers into a 2-0 lead at the break in the match at the London Stadium, with a penalty converted by Sebastiano Esposito in the 89th minute proving to be too little too late for the Belgian side, losing the game 2-1.
With Silkeborg having to make the difficult trip to England themselves tomorrow night, Anderlecht will be hoping that they can capitalise on what is likely to be a defeat for the Danish side, with a win good enough to move them one point above the fellow Group B side into second place.
Based on recent form though, a win for Anderlecht may be a difficult ask, losing their last three matches in the Belgian First Division, a run that has caused them to part with manager Felice Mazzu, with youth coach Robin Veldman being placed in temporary charge.
FCSB have so far struggled in the Europa Conference League, acquiring just one point in four games, a return that leaves them bottom of the group at this stage.
As such, qualification for the knockout rounds is looking very unlikely, but it is still just about possible if Nicolae Dica's side win their last two games and Anderlecht beat Silkeborg in their final match.
Form does not bode well for the Romanian club, however, losing 5-0 against Silkeborg in both of their last two matches in the competition, taking their record to just one goal scored and 13 conceded in Europe so far.
It was a night to forget at the National Arena in the most recent of the 5-0 thrashings, with Kasper Kusk and Anders Klynge netting for the visitors in the first half, before Soren Tengstedt made it three, and Sebastian Jorgensen bagged a brace to almost certainly end FCSB's European adventure.
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Team News
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Anderlecht have had some injury trouble to contend with in recent matches, with Hannes Delcroix playing no part in their last three games, having been injured in the clash against West Ham.
Along with the defender, forward Benito Raman will also miss out due to a hamstring injury, and Adrien Trebel is a doubt as a result of a shoulder injury.
A bright spark in an otherwise underperforming team this season has been Fabio Silva, with the striker netting six league goals, and he is set to start next to 16-year-old Julien Duranville, who managed 30 minutes at the weekend after returning from injury.
FCSB have no fresh injury concerns, but long-term absentees Ovidiu Popescu, Ionut Pantiru, and Lucian Cristea are all set to miss out again.
Andrea Compagno has been in inspired form this season, notching 10 goals in Liga I so far, with Andrei Cordea and Florinel Coman set to start either side of the striker.
Anderlecht possible starting lineup:
Van Crombrugge; Vertonghen, Hoedt, Debast; Amuzu, Ashimeru, Diawara, Verschaeren, Murillo; Silva, Duranville
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Cretu, Dawa, Tamm, Pantea; Edjouma, Sut, Olaru; Cordea, Coman, Compagno
We say: Anderlecht 2-0 FCSB
Despite their poor recent form, Anderlecht should have enough to beat FCSB in fairly comfortable fashion. Although the return fixture finished as a stalemate, the home side will know that they need to win to keep their chances of progression alive, while FCSB have very little chance of going through either way.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Dominic Lund
