Preview: Red Star Belgrade vs Lille – prediction, workforce information, lineups

With a spot within the spherical of 16 of the Europa League at stake, Red Star Belgrade will welcome Lille to Rajko Mitic Stadium in Serbia’s capital on Thursday.

In the opening leg of this tie final week, the Serbian aspect got here away with a 1-0 triumph, giving them the higher hand heading residence for this decisive fixture.

Match preview

Another sound defensive efficiency has Red Star getting ready to a spot within the final 16 of this competitors for the primary time since 2022.

If you don’t depend friendlies, then Dejan Stankovic has but to lose in his second stint in command of this membership, profitable six consecutive aggressive outings on the helm.

His aspect haven’t conceded of their final three matches performed throughout all competitions, whereas netting a mixed 19 objectives in six encounters this month.

At residence, this workforce are unbeaten of their final 4 video games performed excluding friendlies, with out a single defeat in Serbia on the present Europa League marketing campaign.

They have but to lose a house sport within the event this decade past the group section, defeating Rangers 2-1 in Belgrade in 2022, however shedding that spherical of 16 tie 4-2 on mixture.

At the identical time, this workforce have by no means gained a house contest versus French opposition in Europe this century, with their solely such victory coming in a 1998 first-round affair versus Metz (2-1) when this event was referred to as the UEFA Cup.

© Imago / PRESSE SPORTS

A tough opening leg at residence final week has Lille in want of a win to take care of their hopes of creating the final 16 of this event for the primary time since 2010.

Bruno Genesio’s males are coming into this match on a optimistic observe, defeating Angers 1-0 in Ligue 1 motion this previous weekend, their first away win of 2026.

A victory on Thursday would finish their three-game shedding run because the guests on this competitors, whereas additionally marking their first Europa League triumph on the highway since final October at Roma (1-0).

Lille have misplaced their final two knockout fixtures away from residence in Europe since a 3-0 win at Sturm Graz within the opening leg of a Conference League tie in 2024.

After failing to win the primary match of a knockout tie past the group section of a European event this century, Lille have by no means superior.

The final time they’d a two-legged affair in Serbia, nonetheless, Les Dogues got here away with a 2-0 victory at Sloboda Uzice within the third spherical of the 2009 Europa League qualifying stage, advancing 4-0 on mixture.

Red Star Belgrade Europa League kind:

Red Star Belgrade kind (all competitions):

Lille Europa League kind:

Lille kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Starsport

For this decisive sport, Red Star will probably be with out Vladimir Lucic after the Serbian winger obtained one other warning of their victory final Thursday.

Franklin Tebo Uchenna had the one aim in France, which got here in first-half stoppage time, whereas Matheus Magalhaes stopped the one two focused efforts that he confronted for a clear sheet.

A calf pressure might hold Alexsandro sidelined for Lille this week, Thomas Meunier has a sore hamstring, Osame Sahraoui is uncertain as a consequence of a  groin problem, whereas Hamza Igamane won’t function due to a cruciate ligament tear.

Ethan Mbappe Lottin is probably going out as nicely with a leg damage, Ousmane Toure continues to recuperate from a cruciate ligament tear, whereas Marc-Aurele Caillard stays questionable with an elbow drawback.

Red Star Belgrade doable beginning lineup:

Matheus; Erakovic, Uchenna, Rodrigao; Seol, Handel, Krunic, Tiknizyan; Duarte, Katai; Enem

Lille doable beginning lineup:

Ozer; Bouaddi, Mandi, Ngoy, Perraud; Bentaleb, Andre; Perrin, Harraldsson, Correia; Fernandez-Pardo

We say: Red Star Belgrade 1-0 Lille (Red Star Belgrade advances 2-0 on mixture)

Although it’s hardly an insurmountable deficit, Lille haven’t proven the standard in entrance of aim or consistency away from residence to provide us the assumption that they’ll come again in opposition to a aspect as compact and in-form as Red Star.

For information evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.