Preview: Red Star Belgrade vs Lille – prediction, team news, lineups & more related news here

With a place in the Europa League round of 16 at stake, Red Star Belgrade will host Lille at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in the Serbian capital on Thursday.

In the first leg of this tie last week, the Serbian team emerged victorious 1-0, giving them the advantage heading into this decisive match.

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Match preview

Another solid defensive performance has Red Star on the brink of a place in the round of 16 of this competition for the first time since 2022.

If we don’t count friendlies, Dejan Stankovic is still unbeaten in his second spell in charge of this club, winning six consecutive competitive games in charge.

His team has not conceded a goal in its last three games in all competitions, and has scored a combined 19 goals in six games this month.

At home, this team is undefeated in its last four games played excluding friendlies, without a single defeat in Serbia in the current Europa League campaign.

They are yet to lose a home match in the tournament this decade beyond the group stage, defeating Rangers 2-1 in Belgrade in 2022, but losing that round of 16 tie 4-2 on aggregate.

At the same time, this team has never won a home match against French opposition in Europe this century, with their only such victory coming in a 1998 first round match against Metz (2-1), when this tournament was known as the UEFA Cup.

A difficult first leg at home last week left Lille needing a win to maintain their hopes of reaching the last 16 of this tournament for the first time since 2010.

Bruno Genesio’s men come into this match on a positive note, defeating Angers 1-0 in Ligue 1 last weekend, their first away win in 2026.

A victory on Thursday would end their streak of three consecutive away defeats in this competition, while marking their first away Europa League win since last October at Roma (1-0).

Lille have lost their last two away knockout matches in Europe since a 3-0 win against Sturm Graz in the first leg of a Conference League tie in 2024.

After failing to win the first match of a tie beyond the group stage of a European tournament this century, Lille have never advanced.

However, the last time they had a two-legged duel in Serbia, Les Dogues claimed a 2-0 victory at Sloboda Uzice in the third round of the 2009 Europa League qualifying round, advancing 4-0 on aggregate.

Red Star Belgrade form in the Europa League:

Form of Red Star Belgrade (all competitions):

Lille’s form in the Europa League:

Lille form (all competitions):

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Team News

For this decisive match, Red Star will be without Vladimir Lucic after the Serbian winger received another booking in their victory last Thursday.

Franklin Tebo Uchenna scored France’s only goal, which came in first-half stoppage time, while Matheus Magalhaes saved the only two targeted attempts he faced to keep a clean sheet.

A calf strain may keep Alexsandro out for Lille this week, Thomas Meunier has a sore hamstring, Osame Sahraoui is doubtful due to a groin problem, while Hamza Igamane will be out due to a cruciate ligament tear.

Ethan Mbappé Lottin is also likely to be out with a leg injury, Ousmane Touré continues to recover from a cruciate ligament tear, while Marc-Aurele Caillard remains questionable with an elbow problem.

Possible starting lineup for Red Star Belgrade:

Matthew; Erakovic, Uchenna, Rodrigao; Seol, Handel, Krunic, Tiknizyan; Duarte, Katai; enemy

Lille’s possible starting lineup:

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

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

Although it is not an insurmountable deficit, Lille have not shown the quality in front of goal or the consistency away from home that would make us believe that they can come back against a team as compact and in shape as Red Star.

For a data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match, click here.

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