The Rajko Mitić Stadium stages the opening leg of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League playoff tie between Crvena Zvezda and Viktoria Plzen on Thursday. With the main stages of the continental showpiece within touching distance, both teams will be seeking a crucial advantage before the return leg in the Czech Republic next week.
Kicking off their European campaign in the Champions League qualifiers, Crvena Zvezda made light work of Larne FC in the second round, thrashing the Northern Irish outfit 9-0 on aggregate.
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Red Star Belgrade were, however, handed a rude awakening in the third round as they suffered a shock elimination at the hands of Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Despite dominating the first leg, the Serbian outfit fell to a 1-0 defeat, a seemingly recoverable scoreline given that they would have home advantage in the return leg.
However, home comforts counted for little as Crvena lost the second leg 2-0 and will now have to fight for a spot in the Europa League.
Viktoria Plzen’s third-place finish in last season’s Czech First League originally meant they qualified for the UEL second qualifying round. However, they were handed a bye to the playoff round following Karvina’s disqualification due to their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
The visitors have now prepared for their European opener with a month of league football, but one win in four league outings so far does not bode well for Viktoria’s chances ahead of their lengthy trip southeast to the Serbian capital.
Crvena Zvezda vs Viktoria Plzen Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- These two sides have never met in competitive action before Thursday’s encounter.
- Red Star have taken on Czech sides in European competitions 10 times, winning five of those games, drawing one and losing the remaining four.
- Viktoria are undefeated in their four competitive encounters against Serbian opponents, registering three wins and a draw.
- Zvezda had won all four of their home games this season, scoring 15 goals in the process, before falling to a 2-0 defeat to Be’er Sheva last time out.
Crvena Zvezda vs Viktoria Plzen Prediction
We are backing the Star to win this one, largely due to their home advantage and stronger squad quality, but also because of Viktoria’s defensive frailties this season, which have seen them ship 11 goals in just four games.
Prediction: Crvena Zvezda 3-1 Viktoria Plzen
Crvena Zvezda vs Viktoria Plzen Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Crvena Zvezda to win
Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in eight of the visitors’ last nine matches)
Edited by Peter Pedroncelli
