UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - 2017/18 SEASON MATCH PRESS KITS Arena Națională - Thursday 7 December 2017 21.05CET (22.05 local time) FCSB Group G - Matchday 6 FC Lugano Last updated 06/12/2017 03:12CET

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1 FCSB - FC Lugano Thursday 7 December 2017 - 21.05CET (22.05 local time) Match press kit Arena Națională, Bucharest

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With qualification for the round of 32 sealed after matchday four, FCSB will be eyeing top spot in Group G as they entertain a Lugano side that can no longer make it beyond the group stage. • The Romanian team need a win to gurantee going through as group winners, although any result will do if fellow qualifiers Viktoria Plzeň, who trail them by a point and have an inferior head-to-head record, do not win away to Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Previous meetings • Lugano's first encounter with Romanian opponents did not end as desired, with FCSB defeating them 2-1 in Switzerland on matchday two. Mattia Bottani put the hosts ahead on 14 minutes, but second-half goals from and Júnior Morais turned the match in favour of the visitors. • FCSB's record in 13 meetings with Swiss clubs stands at W4 D7 L2. They have yet to lose any of their six games at home (W3 D3), though the last two have both been drawn. Form guide • FCSB are unbeaten in five UEFA Europa League group games at home (W2 D3), though they have won only once in against European opposition this season (D2 L1). Their matchday six record in the UEFA Europa League group stage is W1 D2 L3. • FCSB have qualified with ten points. Their highest points tally in six previous UEFA Europa League group stage adventures is 11, which they achieved in 2012/13 – the only time they have gone through as section winners. • In 11 European away matches to date, Lugano have earned just one win (D2 L8) and scored only four goals. That lone victory came at Internazionale Milano in a 1-0 second-leg success in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup first round, giving the Swiss club a famous 2-1 aggregate win. • Beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League play-offs, 2016/17 Romanian league runners-up FCSB are competing in the UEFA Europa League group stage for a seventh time since the tournament assumed its current format in 2009/10 – a record they share with Salzburg. They have now reached the knockout phase three times. • Third in Switzerland last term, Lugano – from the Italian-speaking Ticino canton – have been absent from UEFA competition since 2002/03 and have never before featured in a group stage. Links and trivia • The journey from Lugano to Bucharest is around 1,350km. • FCSB striker Harlem Gnohéré started his career in the lower leagues in Switzerland with La Tour/Le Pâquier, Bulle and Urania Genève Sport. • This is FCSB's 42nd game in the UEFA Europa League group stage – a competition high that they share with Salzburg. • FCSB's Constantin Budescu sits out this game through suspension. • Suspended for next game if booked: Mihai Pintilii, (FCSB). The coaches • Nicolae Dică returned to FCSB as coach in May 2017, having served the club as a player in two previous spells, landing two titles – and a further one with CFR Cluj. The attacking midfielder also played in Italy, Greece and Turkey. • Pierluigi Tami took charge of Lugano for a second time in June 2017, the Italian-born defender having spent his entire professional career in Switzerland. Notably, he assisted Ottmar Hitzfeld during his spell as national coach.

2 FCSB - FC Lugano Thursday 7 December 2017 - 21.05CET (22.05 local time) Match press kit Arena Națională, Bucharest Legend Competitions

Club competitions National team competitions UCL: UEFA Champions League EURO: UEFA European Football Championship ECCC: European Champion Clubs' Cup WC: FIFA World Cup UEL: UEFA Europa League CONFCUP: FIFA Confederations Cup UCUP: UEFA Cup FRIE: Friendly internationals UCWC: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup U21FRIE: Under-21 friendly internationals SCUP: UEFA Super Cup U21: UEFA European Under-21 Championship UIC: UEFA Intertoto Cup U17: UEFA Under-17 Championship ICF: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup U16: UEFA European Under-16 Championship U19: UEFA Under-19 Championship U18: UEFA European Under-18 Championship WWC: FIFA Women's World Cup WEURO: UEFA European Women's Championship Competition stages Other abbreviations F: Final GS: Group stage (aet): After extra time pens: Penalties GS1: First group stage GS2: Second group stage No.: Number og: Own goal 3QR: Third qualifying round R1: First round ag: Match decided on away P: Penalty R2: Second round R3: Third round goals agg: Aggregate R4: Fourth round PR: Preliminary round Pld: Matches played AP: Appearances SF: Semi-finals QF: Quarter-finals Pos.: Position Comp.: Competition R16: round of 16 QR: Qualifying round Pts: Points D: Drawn R32: Round of 32 1QR: First qualifying round R: Sent off (straight red card) DoB: Date of birth 1st: first leg 2QR: Second qualifying Res.: Result ET: Extra Time round sg: Match decided by silver GA: Goals against 2nd: second leg FT: Final tournament goal t: Match decided by toss of a PO: Play-off ELITE: Elite round coin Rep: Replay 3rdPO: Third-place play-off GF: Goals for W: Won PO - FT: Play-off for Final GS-FT: Group stage – final gg: Match decided by golden Y: Booked Tournament tournament goal L: Lost Y/R: Sent off (two yellow Nat.: Nationality cards) N/A: Not applicable f: Match forfeited Statistics -: Denotes player substituted +: Denotes player introduced *: Denotes player sent off +/-: Denotes player introduced and substituted Squad list D: Disciplinary *: Misses next match if booked S: Suspended QUAL: All UEFA qualifiers UEL: Current season total UEFA Europa League appearances from the group stage onwards prior to the current matchday UEL: Total appearances in the UEFA Europa League, group stage to final only UEFA: All-time total appearances in UEFA club competition including qualifying Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein. More information can be found in the competition regulations available on UEFA.com.

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