The scoreline might imply an easy victory, but Lyon didn't achieve their win in the simplest way. Malik Fofana scored two quick goals in the 86th and 89th minutes, sealing a hard - fought victory.

This was their second consecutive win across all competitions at that time, and they continued this run with a 2 - 0 win over Nice in Ligue 1 at the weekend.

As a result, Lyon is sixth in the top - flight league table. They have 44 points from 25 games, only two points behind fifth - placed Lille and fourth - placed Monaco. Lille holds the Europa League qualifying spot, and Monaco holds the Champions League qualifying spot.

With a clear path ahead, OL is aware that advancing past Steaua would bring them closer to two incentives. One is winning their first UEL title, and the other is securing a direct entry to Europe's elite club competition next season. So, they will enter Thursday's match in high spirits.

Converting their two - goal advantage into a win shouldn't be a difficult task. History is on Paulo Fonseca's team's side. Last week's win in Romania extended their unbeaten streak against Steaua in major European matches to five games, which includes four wins and one draw. Only Sparta Prague has faced them more times without beating them.

Lyon have lost only two of their last 17 home games in Europe, one of which came in this season's league phase against Besiktas in a 1-0 loss on October 24 last year.

Since then, their only setback at Parc Olympique Lyonnais has been a 3-2 defeat to Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, which remains their sole blemish in their last 10 home outings across all competitions, the most recent of which saw them claim a 2-1 victory over Brest.

Before last week's first-leg loss, Steaua had enjoyed an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions, registering five wins and three draws, including home and away triumphs over PAOK in the knockout playoff rounds – a streak that provided the momentum for a strong start to this tie.

However, Alexandru Baluta's 68th-minute equaliser in Romania proved short-lived, as Fofana's late heroics dashed their hopes and left the Red and Blues with a mountain to climb in their bid to reach their first-ever quarter-finals in the competition.

Their record in France only adds to the challenge, as Steaua have never won a major European away match in the country, managing just one draw, with this being their first visit since a 2-0 loss to Lyon in the Champions League in November 2008.

However, there is some cause for optimism, as the visitors have improved their away form in Europe, claiming victories in their last two outings — a 3-2 win at Qarabag in the league phase and a 2-1 success at PAOK in the playoffs — meaning they could secure three straight continental away wins for the first time ever.

FCSB enter Thursday's encounter on the back of a 1-0 victory Universitatea Craiova last weekend, a result which saw them maintain their two points cushion at the summit of the SuperLiga table.

Manager Fonseca, who is currently serving a nine-month domestic touchline ban, will be free to lead his team from the dugout on Thursday.

The Portuguese coach will have the luxury of a fully fit squad, and with no injury concerns, he may opt to stick with the same XI that secured the 3-1 win in Romania.

Rayan Cherki has been outstanding in the Europa League this season, registering six assists — more than any other player in the competition — and he will be eager to continue his fine form when deployed on the flank.

Steaua, on the other hand, have been plagued by injuries, with Darius Olaru, Mihai Lixandru, Octavian Popescu, Alexandru Pantea, William Baeten and Daniel Bîrligea all ruled out for this encounter.

Bîrligea's absence could see Florin Tanase step in to lead the attack once again, as he did in the first leg.

On a positive note, Valentin Cretu returns from suspension and is expected to reclaim his spot at right-back, which should see Mihai Popescu shift to centre-back, while Joyskim Dawa may drop out of the starting XI.

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Tagliafico, Niakhate, Mata, Maitland-Niles; Matic, Tessmann; Nuamah, Tolisso, Cherki, Mikautadze

FCSB possible starting lineup:

Tarnovanu; Radunovic, Popescu, Ngezana, Cretu; Sut, Alhassan; Cisotti, Edjouma, Miculesc; Tanase