Red Star Belgrade will welcome FCSB to Stadion Rajko Mitic on Thursday in their fifth Europa League game of the 2025-26 campaign.
The hosts are 25th in the league phase table with four points, one place and one point from the final round of 16 playoff spot, while their opponents are 31st with three points following their 3-1 loss against Basel on November 6.
Match preview
Red Star claimed a 1-0 victory against Lille on November 6 thanks to Marko Arnautovic’s 85th-minute penalty, though it should be noted that all three of their goals in the league phase have come from set pieces.
The hosts lost 1-0 against Javor in their domestic league on Sunday, though they had won three and drawn one of their prior four games.
Boss Vladan Milojevic’s side are second in the Serbian top flight with 35 points, and while they are two points behind first-placed Partizan Beograd, they do boast the advantage of a game in hand.
The club have scored nine times in their last six matches, but they also conceded seven goals and kept just two clean sheets in that time.
Red Star’s home form has been strong considering they are unbeaten in their past six outings at Stadion Rajko Mitic. emerging as victors on four occasions.
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FCSB should not have been expected to take anything from their clash against Basel given they were reduced to 10 men in the 12th minute when goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu was sent off.
No team in the Europa League has faced more shots than the visitors (79), while only two teams have faced more expected goals (8.6).
Head coach Elias Charalampous’s side are 10th in the Romanian top flight with 21 points from 17 fixtures, six points fewer than they managed at the same stage of 2024-25.
The Red and Blues are winless in their three most recent matches, a period in which they suffered one defeat, conceded seven goals and scored five times.
FCSB’s away record is mixed, with the visitors losing two, drawing one and winning two of their last five fixtures on the road.
Red Star Belgrade Europa League form:
Red Star Belgrade form (all competitions):
FCSB Europa League form:
FCSB form (all competitions):
Team News
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Red Star’s only confirmed injury absentee is Shavy Babicka, but the winger’s absence could lead to appearances for Nemanja Radonjic and Mirko Ivanic.
In the middle of the pitch, Rade Krunic and Timi Max Elsnik are likely to be rewarded with starts for their strong performances against Lille.
Centre-backs Milos Veljkovic and Franklin Tebo are candidates to feature in defence ahead of goalkeeper Matheus.
FCSB will be forced to take out shot-stopper Tarnovanu given his red card last time out in Europe, with backup Lukas Zima set to claim a spot between the posts.
Number 10 Darius Olaru is certain to be played in a supportive role behind centre-forward Daniel Birligea.
Midfielders Florin Tanase and Adrian Sut could be selected in front of central defenders Siyabonga Ngezana and Daniel Graovac.
Red Star Belgrade possible starting lineup:
Matheus; Seol, Veljkovic, Tebo, Tiknizyan; Krunic, Elsnik; Radonjic, Handel, Ivanic; Arnautovic
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Pantea, Ngezana, Graovac, Radunovic; Tanase, Sut; Miculescu, Olaru, Thiam; Birligea
We say: Red Star Belgrade 1-0 FCSB
Though Red Star did lose their most recent match, their overall form is positive, and they also boast home advantage.
FCSB head into Thursday’s clash in poor form, and they have lost their last three matches in Europe, so it would not be surprising if they were beaten once again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
