Aberdeen discover Europa League play-off opponents as Dons face tricky tie
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IT's been a tough start to the season for Aberdeen as Jimmy Thelin's men have lost BOTH of their opening games in the Premiership.
But it's only going to get trickier for the struggling Dons as in a few days time they will begin playing two games a week - with European football on the horizon.
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Jimmy Thelin will take Aberdeen into Europe this month
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
The Pittodrie side are guaranteed European football up until Christmas and perhaps beyond then - IF they qualify for the Europa League instead of the Conference League.
Thelin and Aberdeen fans will know their exact fate by the end of the month - after their Europa League play-off tie over the next couple of weeks.
And now the Dons' path to Uefa's second tier competition has become a little clearer - as they now know which club stands in their way.
The Dons knew they would face one of two teams in the play-off round after the draw was made earlier this month.
In terms of their European away day, Aberdeen fans were getting set to book a trip to either Romania or Kosovo, with FCSB battling it out with Drita in the third qualifying round.
The winner of that tie would then travel to Scotland to face the Dons in the Granite City on Thursday, August 21, with the return leg pencilled in for the following Thursday, August 28.
The third round tie was still very much up in the air ahead of tonight's second leg following last week's thrilling first leg, which ended in a 3-2 win for FCSB - who were at home.
Now the tie has finally been settled following another win for FCSB in Kosovo - with Juri Cisotti and David Mirulescu scoring early doors to put the tie to bed.
Drita did pull one back in the second half through Veton Tusha but it proved to be too little, too late as FCSB ran out 3-1 winners on the night in the end following a late goal from Dennis Politic.
It will be the second time in a year the Romanian side visit Scotland as they took on Rangers in the Europa League last season.
Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win
That was a comfortable win for the Light Blues - managed by Philippe Clement - as they came out on top in a 4-0 win at Ibrox.
Aberdeen were guaranteed European football this season after they pipped Hibs to the coveted Europa League play-off spot by stunning Celtic in the Scottish Cup final in May.
The Easter Road club would have been in this position instead for finishing third in the league IF Brendan Rodgers' men came out on top at Hampden.
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