FCSB
- FCSB have won two, drawn one, and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Marius Baciu took over as FCSB coach in May 2026 and immediately set about installing some structure and discipline to the hosts.
- Florin Tănase remains their main man up front and has hit double digits this season.
- Darius Olaru and Juri Cisotti have also provided some key moments and have proven to be more than capable of providing a spark in the final third.
Botoșani
- Botoșani will be much more compact, as Marius Croitoru has done well to reinforce the club’s pragmatic approach since he was reappointed as head coach in March 2026.
- They are unbeaten in four (won one, drawn three).
- Sebastian Mailat leads the frontline with double-digit goals this term.
- Hervin Ongenda is the chief creator in the centre and his recent goal involvements make him Botoșani’s chief playmaker.
- Mykola Kovtalyuk and Zoran Mitrov will also give them some bite up front if Mailat or Ongenda are tightly marked.
Head-to-Head
- FCSB have dominated this fixture historically with 24 wins to Botoșani’s four.
- Botoșani have beaten FCSB twice in the 2025-26 Liga I season.
- Botoșani have won three of their last five meetings with FCSB, including the 3-2 win in April 2026’s play-out phase.
Key Players
- Florin Tănase remains FCSB’s main man up front and has hit double digits this season, while Darius Olaru and Juri Cisotti have provided key moments in the final third.
- Sebastian Mailat leads Botoșani’s frontline with double-digit goals and exceptional movement, particularly from wide or set-pieces.
- Hervin Ongenda is Botoșani’s chief playmaker, with Mykola Kovtalyuk and Zoran Mitrov offering additional attacking options.
Betting Insights
- With both teams to score - No at 1.95, FCSB is the favourite with the bookies for the Conference League play-off semi-final, suggesting they expect a low-scoring contest.
- Moneyline prices are 1.39 on FCSB, 7.12 on Botoșani, with the draw at 4.7.
Prediction
- The two Romanian clubs finished eighth and tenth respectively in the 2025-26 Liga I play-out standings, making this one-off match their last route into UEFA Conference League qualifying.
- The clash of styles - FCSB dominating possession and Botoșani staying compact - could lead to a close, tense game where the home crowd at the Arena Națională may be decisive.
- Most pundits expect an FCSB win, but there is merit in backing a draw, with 1-1 or 1-0 as plausible correct-score options.