🏆 UEFA Champions League Qualifier Preview: Inter Club d’Escaldes vs FCSB – Prediction, Team News, Lineups
📅 Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2025
🏟️ Venue: Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella
⏰ Kick-off Time: 18:00 CET
🎥 Live Stream/TV: UEFA.tv, local broadcasters (check listings)
🔍 Match Preview
FCSB (Steaua Bucharest), the historic Romanian giants, travel to Andorra to face Inter Club d’Escaldes in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. On paper, the Romanian side are clear favourites, but the tiny Andorran champions will be hoping to stage a shock at home.
Inter Escaldes, three-time Andorran champions, are no strangers to European qualifiers, but their record against stronger opposition remains poor. Coach Rodri Saravia will rely on tight defensive organization and counter-attacks to frustrate the visitors.
Meanwhile, FCSB arrive with high expectations. Led by head coach Elias Charalambous, the Bucharest side are determined to return to Europe’s elite after years of domestic dominance and European underachievement. With a refreshed squad and solid preseason form, they aim to finish the tie early in Andorra.
📋 Team News
Inter Club d’Escaldes
- No major injury concerns.
- Veteran goalkeeper Víctor Silverio expected to start.
- Forward Luiz Carlos will lead the attack, supported by Txus Rubio.
- Midfield anchored by Sergi Moreno, with a defensive backline built around Marc Rebés.
FCSB
- Newly signed winger Luis Phelipe could make his competitive debut.
- Star striker Florinel Coman remains doubtful with a minor knock—could be used from the bench.
- Octavian Popescu is set to be the creative spark in midfield.
- Solid defensive pairing of Joyskim Dawa and Denis Haruț to start at the back.
- Goalkeeper Ștefan Târnovanu expected to start between the posts.
🔮 Prediction
FCSB have significantly more quality and depth across the pitch. While Inter Escaldes may be disciplined and difficult to break down early on, the Romanians are likely to assert control as the game progresses.
Prediction: Inter Club d’Escaldes 0-2 FCSB
Goals expected from Octavian Popescu and a substitute impact—possibly from Coman, if fit.
✅ Predicted Lineups
Inter Club d’Escaldes (4-2-3-1):
Silverio – Rebés, Reig, Garcia, Mourelo – Moreno, Ortega – Rubio, Silva, Teixeira – Luiz Carlos
FCSB (4-2-3-1):
Târnovanu – Haruț, Dawa, Ngezana, Radunović – Olaru, Edjouma – Popescu, Phelipe, Miculescu – Compagno
(Coman to feature if fit)
📈 Did You Know?
- FCSB reached the European Cup final in 1989 and famously won it in 1986.
- Inter Club d’Escaldes have never progressed beyond the first qualifying rounds in UEFA competition.
- This is the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
Stay tuned for post-match analysis, highlights, and more as the Champions League qualifiers kick into gear!
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