In the league phase, FCSB had a record of four wins, two draws, and two losses in eight matches, finishing just one point behind Lyon.

Nonetheless, this result was insufficient to land them a top - eight position. Their 11th - place finish meant they entered the knockout - round playoffs as a seeded team.

The Romanian champions navigated through their playoff round against PAOK effectively. They secured a 2 - 1 victory in the away leg and followed it up with a 2 - 0 win in the home leg. This accomplishment propelled them into the Europa League last 16 for the first time since the 2012 - 13 season.

Since then, Elias Charalambous's team has taken part in two derby games. They defeated Dinamo Bucharest 2 - 1 and then played to a goalless draw against Rapid Bucharest on Sunday. As a result, they now lead the Romanian top flight by one point.

Those results also extended FCSB's unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions (W5, D3), with their most recent defeat taking place against Manchester United in a league phase match at the end of January.

The hosts are searching for their first competitive win over Lyon after drawing one and losing three of their four meetings across the 2006-07 and 2008-09 Champions League group stages.

Lyon avoided the risk of a playoff tie after they won four, drew three and lost just one of their eight league phase matches to secure a sixth-placed finish.

The French side enter the knockout rounds under new management after Paulo Fonseca was named as Pierre Sage's successor following the conclusion of the league phase.

Fonseca has won three of his first five matches in charge, including a 2-1 victory in Sunday's home fixture against Brest, which was overshadowed by a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot, leaving him at risk of receiving a lengthy domestic ban.

The 51-year-old, who has since apologised for the incident, is now preparing to take charge of his first European game as Lyon boss, with the French side looking to set up a quarter-final meeting with Real Sociedad or Manchester United.

Les Gones has fared well in their most recent last-16 appearances in UEFA competition, beating Juventus on away goals in the 2019-20 Champions League, before they recorded a narrow 2-1 victory in the 2021-22 Europa League.

Lyon will also take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League away matches since losing 1-0 to Atalanta BC in December 2017 (W8, D3).

FCSB are having to cope with an absentee list which includes Alexandru Pantea, Octavian Popescu, Darius Olaru, William Baeten and Mihai Lixandru.

Forward Daniel Birligea is also expected to miss the first leg after being absent from the club's last two matchday squads.

Winter additions Ionut Cercel, Alexandru Stoian and Jordan Gele will not be involved in Thursday's fixture, having been left out of the Europa League squad for the knockout phase.

Lyon are unable to call upon Brazilian defender Abner Vinicius, who has missed the last two matches with an injury issue.

In positive news, Nicolas Tagliafico is available for selection after being suspended for the league win over Brest due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Midfielder Nemanja Matic and winger Ernest Nuamah could return to the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench on Sunday.

FCSB possible starting lineup:

Tarnovanu; Cretu, Popescu, Dawa, Radunovic; Sut, Chiriches; Miculescu, Tanase, Cisotti; Gheorghita

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Kumbedi, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Tessmann, Matic; Cherki, Tolisso, Nuamah; Lacazette