In the second qualifying round of the 2025 Champions League, FCSB was beaten 1-0 away by Shkendija, with the Macedonian side’s Adamu Alhassan scoring the only goal in the 64th minute. Despite dominating much of the match, FCSB’s hopes were hampered dramatically when captain Florin Tănase received a straight red card for a brutal and reckless challenge shortly after the goal, reducing his team to ten men.
The situation worsened as Shkendija’s Kamer Qaka, a former FCSB player, was sent off in the 70th minute, giving FCSB a brief numerical advantage. However, Tănase’s second red card eight minutes later nullified that advantage, leaving FCSB with ten men for the remainder of the game. The Romanian side struggled to recover, with Tănase’s violent tackle on the opponent’s tibia drawing intense criticism and leaving him suspended for the return leg on July 30 in Bucharest.
This setback puts significant pressure on FCSB to overturn the deficit at home, especially without their key playmaker for the crucial second leg.