Nordsjaelland – FCSB

Europa Conference League Qualifiers Round 3
Farum, August 17, 19:00 CET

There's a good reason why Danish vice-champions Nordsjaelland didn't score a goal this season only in the first match of the Europa Conference League Qualification Round 3, away to Romania's FCSB 0:0 last week.
The matter is simple: the favorites from Denmark played this game with one player less after an hour of play, when defender Adamo Nagalo received a second yellow card. However, the home team failed to take advantage of the situation and punish the opponent - simply, Nordsjaelland is a much better team.
At home, the Danish squad has been powerful since the start of the season. In the domestic Superliga, they have the maximum score after four rounds, with as many as 15 goals scored. The previous weekend, Randers team was defeated away from home 5:0, and the key players were given the opportunity to play completely relieved in the end. It is clear that Nordsjaelland will enter the match against the Romanians rested and with a lot of confidence.
Since July 14 and the defeat against the German Magdeburg 2:1, in a match in which they played with a combined team, Nordsjaelland achieved four triumphs and a draw. This is a team that has only that one defeat in the last 15 matches they have played. Most importantly, young star, left-footed wing-forward Ernest Nuamah, is playing fantastically. The teenager from Ghana has already scored four goals in the domestic championship, was voted the best player of the Danish championship last season - and is definitely a player who deserves a chance in one of the big European clubs.
On the other hand, FCSB started the season well, they also have a maximum score of four triumphs in the domestic championship. In the last round of the Romanian championship, CFR Cluj was defeated 1:0, and previously Otelul 2:0 away from home. However, the impression is that these are teams that are nowhere near the attacking quality that Nordsjaelland has.
Interestingly, in their first match last week (0:0) FCSB failed to make a shot on target throughout the game! Also, even though they played with less players on the field for more than half an hour, Nordsjaelland had more shots (9:8) – and a total of three on goal.
All this testifies to the fact that Nordsjaelland is the absolute favorite to achieve victory on their home ground and to pass to the next round of qualifications. Also, there is a great chance for the Danish team to continue a series of excellent attacking games - in addition to Nuamah, left winger Oliver Antman is also in excellent form, who scored a goal and played superbly in the previous triumph against Randers.
Nordsjaelland not only wants to compete for the title in the domestic championship, but also to play at least in the group stage of the European competition this season. FCSB, the famous club from Bucharest (former Steaua, European champion in 1986 and winner of 26 league titles and 24 Romanian Cups) is just another step on that path.