Following an exciting first leg in which Krasnodar defeated Red Star Belgrade 3-2 in Russia, the teams meet again for the second leg in Serbia. This is the final round of matches in the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League qualifying stages and whichever team comes out on top, will progress to the group stages of the competition.
Europa League – Red Star Stadium, Belgrade – Thursday 24th August – 20:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 9/4 at Coral |
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Red Star Belgrade
KrasnodarRed Star Belgrade have a long history in European football and won the 1990/91 European Cup with a penalty victory over Marseille in the final. However, since then it has been a struggle to qualify for the main draw of a European tournament and last season they fell at this stage of the Europa League.
In contrast to Red Star Belgrade, Krasnodar played their first ever European match in 2014. Since then they have reached the group stages of the Europa League every season and will be aiming to make it four in a row.
Red Star Belgrade News & Form
Red Star Belgrade come into this match sitting top of the Serbian Super Liga table. They have won all 5 of their league games and enjoy a plus 15 goal difference which is what is keeping them above Vojvodina.
The 3-2 defeat in Krasnodar last week was their first of the season and means they have lost 1 of their 12 competitive matches this campaign.
At home, they have been very good and Red Star Belgrade have won all 6 of their competitive games at the Stadion Rajko Mitic. Red Star Belgrade have scored 2 or more goals in each of those games and have conceded only once.
Krasnodar News & Form
Much like their opponents, Krasnodar have proven very difficult to beat this season, both in the Europa League and in their domestic league. Krasnodar have lost just 1 of their 7 Russian Premier League games and they sit 4th in the table, 2 points off the Champions League qualifying places but 7 points adrift of leaders Zenit St Petersburg. Krasnodar have been involved in some very tight games but are on a 6-match unbeaten run, winning 3 and drawing 3 in all competitions.
Away from home, Krasnodar have lost just 1 of their 5 games this season which came at Spartak Moscow. They defeated Lyngby 3-1 in the previous round of the Europa League and were held 0-0 in Rostov on the weekend.
Team News
Red Star Belgrade have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of this game and should be fresh having not played on the weekend. Krasnodar are without Tornike Okriashvili, while there are doubts over both Stanislav Kritsyuk and Ricardo Laborde.
Top Betting Tips
With a deficit to overturn from the first leg, Red Star Belgrade will be looking to continue their excellent recent home form. Red Star Belgrade are 6/4 to win the match.
Red Star Belgrade have seen over 2.5 goals in 4 of their 6 home matches this season and given the way the first match played out, we could be in for more of the same in this game. Over 2.5 goals is 4/5 with Ladbrokes.
Having kept 5 clean sheets in their 6 home games this season, Red Star Belgrade will know any win to nil will be enough to see them through. Red Star Belgrade are 4/1 with Ladbrokes to win the match without conceding a goal.