Europa League: FCSB's Rangers visit reminds Aberdeen fans of pain

Romanian champions FCSB may go under the radar for many football fans these days, particularly those of a younger vintage.

The club formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, who are in Glasgow to face Rangers on Europa League match-day three, have changed a lot since their 1980s glory days, when they stood on top of European football.

And how those who hold Aberdeen close to their heart still look back in anger at that.

Dons fans who watched Alex Ferguson's side rampage to trophy after trophy still believe they should have had their name on another rather than the unfancied 'Ros-albastri'.

The Dons' pinnacle came in the Swedish port city of Gothenburg in 1983, when they claimed the first of two European trophies that year by defeating Real Madrid to lift the Cup-Winners' Cup before going on to win the Super Cup too.

However, many familiar with the club's golden period and silver-laden years will still lament that a third European honour did not follow just a few seasons later.

Winning the European Cup was seen as the next step for Ferguson's team and, despite being shorn of the likes of Gordon Strachan, Dougie Bell and Mark McGhee, they were among the favourites to go all the way in Europe's premier competition in 1986.

Handed a return to Gothenburg in the quarter-finals, they went out on the away goals rule following a 2-2 draw against then Uefa Cup holders IFK at Pittodrie and a goal-less draw on their hallowed Ullevi pitch in the second leg. The regrets linger to this day.

Aberdeen did not lose a game in that run and there was a genuine feeling in the north-east that it was an opportunity missed because the Barcelona side that defeated IFK in the semi-finals under Terry Venables were viewed as very beatable by the Dons - a theory proven by Dundee United just 12 months later.

And so it was over to Steaua to get their hands on the most famous of silverware after squeezing past Barca 2-0 on penalties in Seville after the first goalless European Cup final.

Alongside Red Star Belgrade, they remain just one of two Eastern European clubs to win the European Cup and, to this day, the likes of Marius Lacatus, Gabi Balint and, perhaps above all, goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam are adored by those on the red and blue side of Bucharest.

The picture of the man nicknamed 'The Hero of Seville' throwing the ball above his head after saving the decisive kick - he saved all four in the shoot-out - is one of the famous images in European Cup history.

Steaua were unlikely champions in an era that occasionally threw up unlikely champions, magic that has been almost erased in the Champions League era.

Gheorghe Hagi, whose Rangers midfielder son Ianis may feature against his father's breakthrough club, scored the winning goal for Steaua to seal the Super Cup later that year.

It was not a flash in the pan success either as the club returned to the final in 1989 only to be overwhelmed by Arrigo Sacchi's magnificent AC Milan side at the Nou Camp.

Steaua have won 16 league titles since their continental zenith, but they have never got close to those sort of heights since, although a first championship in almost a decade last season has helped bring some good times back.

Their European journey so far this season has been a long one already.

Beginning in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, they came through Sanmarinese minnows Virtus before seeing off Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv.

They then ran into Czech champions Sparta Prague as they dropped down to the Europa League before ejecting Austrians LASK in the play-off.

And, while they travel to Ibrox sitting a disappointing fifth in the Romanian top flight, form has been found - form that has included two wins out of two at the start of their Europa League campaign against Riga and PAOK.

Star man and Romania striker Daniel Birligea has scored in both matches in the League phase. The 24-year-old has eight goals in his 17 games this season, his 14 league goals for CFR Cluj last season persuading Steaua to pay out £1.7m this summer.

Birligea did not play but was part of the Romania squad at Euro 2024 and his goal that opened the scoring against Dinamo in the Bucharest derby at the weekend was that of an international striker.

Young prospect Alexandru Musi sealed the victory deep into added time amid wild celebrations as they made it 10 games unbeaten.

Reports in Romania suggest that Cypriot head coach Elias Charlambous has been ordered to play a weakened side against Rangers with another derby against Rapid Bucharest next up domestically.

Influential captain Darius Olaru was sent off against POAK and is therefore banned for this one, while lynchpin midfielder Adrian Sut may not travel for personal reasons.

So it is unclear just who will take to the Ibrox pitch for the visitors, with former St Mirren, Heart of Midlothian and Hamilton Academical defender Mihai Popescu also in the ranks after his summer arrival.

With the pressure firmly on Rangers manager Phillipe Clement, it is clear the same importance is not being placed on the shoulders of his opposite number on Thursday evening as FCSB attempt to live up to the heroes of the past.