FCSB and FC Botoșani met on 24 May 2026 at 20:30 in Ghencea, opening the first match of the Conference League playoff at Stadionul Steaua. The winner was due to face Dinamo on 29 May, with a place in the Conference League preliminaries on the line.

The match carried immediate stakes for FCSB, which finished the play-out second with 37 points, and for Botoșani, which ended the season in 10th place with 33. GSP said the game was broadcast live on PrimaSport 1 and DigiSport 1, and organizers expected 15,000 supporters.

Marius Baciu made his debut as FCSB coach in the fixture and asked for support from everyone around the club. Baciu said he wanted the team to adapt to the rhythm of the game, to be both defensive and offensive when needed, and to stay disciplined. He also said preparation had started the day before and would end only after the match.

His first assignment came against a Botoșani side that had already caused FCSB problems three times this season. Botoșani won two of those meetings, 3-1 and 3-2, while FCSB took the other 2-1. That record made the playoff opener more than a routine end-of-season match; it was the latest test in a rivalry that had already tilted Botoșani’s way.

Istvan Kovacs was appointed referee, with Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi as assistants. Cătălin Popa was listed as VAR referee, and Rareș Vidican as VAR assistant. Marius Croitoru coached FC Botoșani, whose delegation arrived at the stadium before kickoff, while FCSB reached the venue at 19:00.

The setup was straightforward, but the margins were not. FCSB and Botoșani were the first two teams in the play-out with UEFA licenses, which made this the first step on a narrow path toward Europe. Baciu called it a qualifying match and even compared it to a semifinal, saying it could be settled in 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalties. That is the pressure now: one game, one winner, and a spot in front of Dinamo waiting three days later.