FCSB, with a new face in the Europa League » How it will look in the match with Dinamo Zagreb
Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 8:00 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, January 20, 2026 8:01 p.m.
After a defeat in the first official match of 2026, 0-1 against FC Argeș, FCSB will now play in the Europa League. And there will be some changes in the starting team.
The dramatic 4-3 win over Feyenoord, with a last-gasp goal, gave the Reds and Blues hope for an eventual qualification to the next round. For that, according to the statisticians from Football Meets Data, FCSB needs at least 4 points from the next two matches. And the champion will line up the best starting formula on Thursday.
How FCSB will look with Dinamo Zagreb
Compared to the match with FC Argeș, FCSB will make several changes in the starting formula. Thus, Radunovic will return to the left side, and the pair of central defenders will consist of Dawa and Graovac, the second being suspended for the Mioveni match.
And in the middle there will be a change. Lixandru, used as a defender at Mioveni, will go up the middle and be a defender, instead of Vlad Chiricheș. And Miculescu will start as a starter, instead of Toma.
Probable FCSB team: Târnovanu – Crețu, Dawa, Graovac, Radunovic – Lixandru, Fl. Tănase – Miculescu, Olaru, Cisotti – Bîrligea
How FCSB started the match with FC Argeș: Târnovanu – Crețu, Lixandru, Dawa, Pantea – Fl. Tănase, Chiricheș – Cisotti, Olaru, M. Toma – Bîrligea
Duarte and Ofri Arad do not have the right to play
The two transfers made by FCSB this winter, the defender Andre Duarte and the midfielder Ofri Arad do not have the right to play. UEFA only allows teams to make roster changes after the group stage, meaning FCSB cannot rely on the two in their games against Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce.
Only if FCSB qualifies in the next round can the two be made the list.
After 6 rounds, FCSB is in 27th place, with 6 points. The champion has two wins (1-0 with Go Ahead Eagles and 4-3 with Feyenoord) and four defeats. The red-blues are one point behind Celtic, in 24th place, the last one that ensures qualification in the play-off for the eighth.
