Virtus vs FC Steaua Bucuresti Prediction and Betting Tips | July 9th 2024

Virtus welcome FC Steaua Bucuresti to the San Marino Stadium for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first-round qualification tie on Tuesday. The hosts have not been in action since falling to a penalty shootout defeat to La Florita in the final of the San Marinese Coppa Titano.

They could not be separated in a goalless draw after extra time, with Florita eventually claiming a 4-2 victory in the shootout.

FCSB, meanwhile, kick-started their new season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Hunedoara in the Romanian Super Cup last week. David Miculescu, Marius Stefanescu and Luis Phelipe scored to help their side emerge triumphant.

The Red and Blues booked their spot at this stage of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers courtesy of their status as Romanian Liga 1 champions. Virtus are here as Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio champions.

The winner of this tie will face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the second round of the qualifiers.

Virtus vs FC Steaua Bucuresti Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
Seven of Virtus' last eight competitive games have seen one side fail to find the back of the net.
FCSB's last four games have seen one side keep a clean sheet.
FCSB are competing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.
Virtus' defeat to Fl Florita ended their nine-game winning streak.
FCSB have won just one of their last seven games in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers (four losses).

Virtus vs FC Steaua Bucuresti Prediction

Virtus made history by winning their first league title last term and this got them their maiden game on the continent. Despite playing at home, Luigi Bizzotto's side are heavy underdogs and are unlikely to pose much of a threat to their more illustrious visitors.

FCSB are one-time European champions, having won the European Cup in 1986 in addition to a runner-up finish in 1990. The Romanians have fallen from those heights in recent decades but still have a vastly superior pedigree to their hosts.

Barring an unlikely upset, there should only be one winner here. We are backing the visitors to claim a comfortable victory in addition to a clean sheet.

Prediction: Virtus 0-3 FC Steaua Bucuresti

Virtus vs FC Steaua Bucuresti Betting Tips

Tip 1 - FC Steaua Bucuresti to win

Tip 2 - Both teams to score: No

Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals

Tip 4 - Halftime/Fulltime result: FCSB/FCSB