Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 22:59 / Updated Tuesday, 20 January 2026 23:16
FCSB, the champion of Romania, started the year 2026 with the left. The red-blues surprisingly lost, score 0-1, to FC Argeș, in the Superliga, a result that seriously complicates the fight for the domestic play-off, a presence that the team has never missed since the introduction of the current competitive format. However, the situation is not at all better on the European level either.
In the Europa League, the formation prepared by Elias Charalambous occupies the 27th place, with only 6 points after as many matches played. Last year, FCSB managed to qualify in the play-off for the eighth and even fought for a place in the top 8, but the current course is far below expectations.
For FCSB, the extremely important away duel with Dinamo Zagreb follows, a match that can weigh decisively in the qualification equation.
Qualification calculation: how many points are required for qualification
Statisticians at Football Meets Data have analyzed FCSB's chances of qualifying for the Europa League round of 16 play-offs, and the verdict is not encouraging at all.
According to the simulations, FCSB currently has a 24% chance of qualifying, and the number of points needed looks like this:
In other words, the red-blues most likely need a minimum of 4 points in their last matches to hope for qualification, as FCSB already have 6 points.
🇷🇴 FCSB were looking done & dusted in 🟠 UEL, but then a crazy late win v 🇳🇱 Feyenoord in MD6 changed everything.
🔢 How many points will they need to qualify for 🟠 Top 24?
Remaining schedule:
✈️ 🇭🇷 Dinamo Zagreb
🏠 🇹🇷 Fenerbahçe📊 Our Simulator shows that 🇷🇴 FCSB will… pic.twitter.com/gxHaoBS13o
— Football Meets Data (@fmeetsdata) January 20, 2026
Infernal schedule for FCSB
FCSB still have a real chance thanks to a memorable 4-3 win over Feyenoord. The Dutch were leading 3-2 in the 87th minute, but Edjouma and Florin Tănase turned the result in the end, bringing an incredible success, which weighs enormously in the qualification calculations.
After the game in Zagreb, with Dinamo, the red-blues will wait, a week away, for the visit of the Turks from Fenerbahce, on January 29, but until then they will have a hellish schedule, with matches every three days.
Thus, on January 25, FCSB will receive a visit from CFR Cluj, in a duel in the Super League, so that four days later, on January 29, they will play at home with Fenerbahce, in the Europa League. The series of matches continues on February 1, when the red-blues will perform at home, at the National Arena, against the Csikszereda team, in the championship.
FCSB is one point behind Celtic, occupying the 24th place, the last one that ensures the qualification in the play-off for the Europa League round of 16.
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Probable FCSB squad for the match against Dinamo Zagreb: Târnovanu – Crețu, Dawa, Graovac, Radunovic – Lixandru, Fl. Tănase – Miculescu, Olaru, Cisotti – Bîrligea
UEFA Europa League standings
