Red Star Belgrade welcomes Stuttgart at the Marakana stadium this Wednesday, both teams eager to earn crucial points in the Champions League group stages. Red Star is yet to record a point, while Stuttgart hopes to bounce back from its recent loss.
Match Preview
Red Star Belgrade in Big Game Emergencies
Red Star Belgrade has had a tough Champions League campaign so far, losing all their matches. After home defeats to Benfica and Barcelona, heavy losses on the road to Inter Milan and Monaco have left them with an alarming -12 goal difference, 16 conceded-the worst defensive record in the tournament.
Yet, the Serbian champions have continued their domestic dominance without problem. They’ve won 13 of their 14 league games this season, scoring 44 goals and conceding only eight. Under head coach Vladan Milojevic they’ve been able to expand their unbeaten streak in domestic competitions to 36 matches. Success on that front has, however, evaded them when it comes to European competition.
Stuttgart’s European Comeback
Stuttgart, for its part, finds itself embarking on a renaissance on the Continental stage, as these will be the Swabians’ first European appearances in 11 years. Champions League runners-up last season, they have picked up where they left off under their coach Sebastian Hoeness.
This season in the Champions League, Stuttgart has gathered four points, including a dramatic win against Juventus. However, that campaign faced a little bump when they lost 2-0 at home to Atalanta. They will now look to record back-to-back away victories in the competition for the first time.
Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bochum keeps Stuttgart competitive in the Bundesliga, but they’ll need a strong finish in the group stage to advance.
Current Form
Red Star Belgrade (Champions League): LWLLLL
Red Star Belgrade (All Competitions): LWWWLW
Stuttgart (Champions League): LDWL
Stuttgart (All Competitions): WWDLLW
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Red Star Belgrade
The Serbian outfit is haunted by a bunch of injuries. Ognjen Mimovic, Bruno Duarte, and Mirko Ivanic are back in training, but their involvement is doubtful. Winger Peter Olayinka remains ruled out with an Achilles problem.
The attack should be spearheaded by Senegalese striker Cherif Ndiaye, with nine goals in the league so far this season, with winger Felicio Milson in support, having netted in both Champions League outings this campaign.
Predicted Lineup:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting XI: M. Ilic; Young-woo, Spajic, Djiga, Rodic; Krunic, Elsnik; Silas, Maksimovic, L. Ilic; Ndiaye
Stuttgart
Stuttgart face a depleted forward line with El Bilal Toure out following foot surgery and top scorer Deniz Undav not available until 2025. Ermedin Demirovic, fresh from an international goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina, is expected to lead the line.
The creative spark will fall squarely on French playmaker Enzo Millot, who has created nine key chances in the Champions League. Jamie Leweling, Luca Raimund, and Dan-Axel Zagadou also miss out, while Leonidas Stergiou’s return is a welcome boost to the backline.
Predicted Lineup:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting XI: Nubel; Stergiou, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Rieder, Millot, Fuhrich; Demirovic
Match Prediction
Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Stuttgart
Both teams have struggled in front of goal, averaging less than one per game in the competition. Expect a closely fought encounter with Red Star finally managing to earn a point. The likely outcome is for Stuttgart’s attack to exploit any frailties in the hosts’ defense.
