Can FCSB rescue their European campaign? Prediction for Auda vs FCSB — 30.07.2026
Auda
On Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Skonto Stadium in Riga will host the second leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round between Latvia's Auda and Romania's FCSB. Kickoff is set for 19:00 local time. Heading into the return leg, the advantage has surprisingly swung to the Latvians, who clinched a 3-2 victory in Bucharest just a week ago. Now, the Romanian side faces an uphill battle on the road, so don't expect a cautious approach from the visitors.
Auda: Latvian counterattacks became a nightmare for the favorites
Before the first leg, Auda were considered clear underdogs, but Didier Zanetti's team didn't just sit back near their own penalty area. The Latvians opened the scoring in the fifth minute thanks to Eduards Daskevics, and after Octavian Popescu’s equalizer, Barthelemy Diedhiou put them back ahead.
In the second half, FCSB managed to level the score again, but the final word belonged to the visitors. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Kader Kone capitalized on a defensive blunder and a mistake from goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu to hand Auda a sensational 3-2 win. The Latvians' rapid transitions proved especially dangerous: Yuba Traore racked up two assists in Bucharest.
Yet the result of the first match can't be chalked up to Auda’s outright dominance. FCSB enjoyed 55% possession and took 18 shots to Auda’s 12, but the Latvians were far more clinical with their chances. In Riga, the hosts will likely concede territory, keeping space open for the pacey runs of Kone, Daskevics, and Diedhiou.
In their domestic league, Auda were third before matchday 24, tallying 40 points from 22 games with a goal difference of 37:26. The team is already in a steady competitive rhythm, which is especially important in the early stages of European qualification. Between the two legs with FCSB, Auda will also play a home match against BFC Daugavpils.
FCSB: Romanians need to attack, but the defense remains vulnerable
The defeat in Bucharest was a tough blow for FCSB. The Romanian side created plenty of chances, twice came from behind, and dominated possession for long stretches, but defensive errors undid their attacking efforts.
Head coach Marius Baciu has plenty of firepower up front. Octavian Popescu and Aimen Boutoutaou already found the net in the first leg, Alexandru Stoian made a noticeable impact off the bench, and Daniel Burlija is adept at pulling central defenders out of position and creating space for his teammates. The main concern isn’t chance creation, but finishing: in Bucharest, FCSB fired 18 shots but converted only twice.
The squad situation is also less than ideal. Center-back Siyabonga Ngezana is still recovering and isn’t expected back until September. Mihai Popescu and David Miculescu were named in the squad for this tie, but neither was fully fit ahead of the first leg. Eddy Gnaore requested a substitution at halftime in Bucharest, while Joao Paulo could see increased minutes in Riga. Additionally, fitness coach Thomas Neubert won’t be on the bench after his sending-off in the first game.
FCSB kicked off the new Romanian league season with a 2-0 home win over Arges. However, on July 26, they’ll have an away fixture against Csikszereda, so the coaching staff will need to manage workloads ahead of this decisive European clash.
Probable lineups
- Auda: Purins — Hrvoj, Ouedraogo, Arroyo, Rubenis — Daskevics, Traore, Houssaini — Bongemba, Diedhiou, Kone.
- FCSB: Tarnovanu — Cretu, Dawa, Duarte, Radunovic — Cisotti, Joao Paulo — Boutoutaou, Tanase, Octavian Popescu — Burlija.
Both starting elevens are expected to closely resemble those from the first encounter. The most likely changes for the visitors involve Joao Paulo’s return and a possible reshuffle on the right side of defense.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Auda won the first leg 3-2.
- All five goals in Bucharest were scored by different players.
- FCSB attempted 18 shots in the first match, Auda — 12.
- Auda scored three times despite having just 45% possession.
- The winner of this tie will face the victor of Aluminium vs Dinamo City.
The need to come back will open up the game: Auda vs FCSB prediction
The scenario for the return leg seems clear. FCSB must score at least once, so expect the visitors to dictate play from the outset and try to pin Auda deep in their own half. The individual brilliance of Popescu, Tanase, Boutoutaou, and Burlija should be enough to produce at least one breakthrough.
However, banking solely on a Romanian win is risky. In the first match, FCSB’s defenders repeatedly left gaps, and Tarnovanu made several costly errors. Now, the visitors will likely push their defensive line even higher, which plays right into the hands of Auda’s quick attacking trio.
The Latvians have already shown they can punish mistakes on the counter. Even if the hosts spend long stretches without the ball, Kone, Traore, and Daskevics should find opportunities in open space. Both teams boast plenty of attacking firepower, while their defensive reliability remains questionable.
Prediction: both teams to score — yes.
