This should be one of the highlights of matchday six in the Europa League this week as there is a winner-takes-all scenario going down. This is Group H action where second place is on the line in this one. Premier League side Arsenal have already won the group, but the winner of this fixture will find themselves locking in second place behind them. A draw in this one would favour Red Star but they would miss out if BATE Borisov were to beat Arsenal on the night.
UEFA Europa League – Group H, Stadium Red Star Belgrade – Thursday 7th December – 20:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Red Star Belgrade
FC CologneRed Star Belgrade Form
So the pressure is on the home side in this one to take the incentive in the match. They have pretty decent home form going as well because they have conceded only two goals in their two home games in the group so far. Overall they haven’t conceded more than one goal in any of their last seven European home games now and in that seven-match sequence, they have gone W4 D2 L1. Back on Match Day Two Belgrade took a 1-0 win, their only group stage win so far, and their home record against German sides is a W9 D4 L2. So far at home in the group, they have drawn with BATE and lost 1-0 against Arsenal. Under 2.5 goals looks a pretty solid fit for the fixture.
Cologne Form
Cologne have gone W2 L3 from their five previous matches against Serbian sides, which includes their loss to Red Star in this group stage campaign. The Germans will be a bit nervy in this one because they are in poor form on the road having lost each of their last four European road games. That includes their losses at Arsenal and BATE in the group stage. Cologne will be under more pressure to win because a draw doesn’t see them beat Red Star in the head to head. The Germans have been struggling all season long for form and are rock bottom of the Bundesliga with just the three points on the board for three drawn matches.
Head to Head News
Aside from the match day two fixture between them, the only previous times that these two came together was in the 1989/90 UEFA Cup third round with Red Star winning 2-0 at home only to lose 3-0 out in Cologne which saw them eliminated. So that is Red Star 2-1 up in the head to head.
Top Betting Tips
Cologne have been having such a poor season, a long way short of their fantastic exploits last term that they aren’t valued to go out on the road and collect a win this one. Red Star have decent European home form and can edge out the win. Once again, Richmond Boakye who scored the deciding goal for the Serbians in the first meeting could be the difference maker.