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Red Star Belgrade are in a great position to qualify for the Europa League proper as they travel to the Doosan Arena to face Viktoria Plzen in the second leg of their qualifier on Thursday evening.
Red Star won the first leg 3-0 on home soil, and so avoiding a heavy defeat would see them safely through.
Plzen are not completely out of the tie though, and will want to put in a monumental performance on home soil to turn it around.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Viktoria Plzen vs. Red Star Belgrade key stats
- Plzen have won just once in all competitions this season (D2, L2).
- Red Star have won seven of nine games across all competitions this term (L2).
- Red Star have dropped down from Champions League qualifiers.
Viktoria Plzen vs. Red Star Belgrade preview: Red Star to safely progress?
Plzen vs Red Star — Tale of the Tape
| Plzen | vs | Red Star |
|---|---|---|
| 12th (First League) | Position | 1st (SuperLiga) |
| 5 | Points | 12 |
| 10 | Goals For | 14 |
| 11 | Goals Against | 1 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 3 |
| 8th | Home / Away Rank | 11th |
With a three-goal deficit, Plzen are unlikely to get through to the league phase.
Viktor Baier, Vaclav Jemelka and Jan Paluska are all out injured too, which makes it an even tougher task.
Martin Hysky's side have not had a great start to the season either, winning just once in five matches across all competitions.
Nonetheless, Red Star are big favourites to progress instead.
The Serbians are in better form, winning three of their last four games in all competitions (L1).
Albert Riera was appointed following elimination from Champions League qualifiers, where Red Star lost 3-0 on aggregate to Hapoel Beer Sheva.
They followed the 3-0 victory in the first leg with a 4-0 win in domestic action, and so are full of confidence ahead of the second leg.
The visitors also have no fresh injury concerns at the time of writing, so are likely to field a strong XI.
Viktoria Plzen vs. Red Star Belgrade form guide & betting tips
| Plzen | vs | Red Star |
|---|---|---|
LDDWL |
Form | LWLWW |
| 10 | Goals For | 9 |
| 14 | Goals Against | 3 |
L |
Europa League | W |
Whispers predicts: Viktoria Plzen 2-2 Red Star Belgrade
Plzen are 1/1 (2.00) favourites to win, but given Red Star's superior form, we fancy them to get a result.
Double chance – Draw/Red Star at 10/11 (1.91) is generously priced in our eyes, while BTTS – Yes at 8/13 (1.62) also offers some value having come through in four of Plzen's five games this season.
Over 3.5 goals at 13/8 (2.63) is our final pick, with those matches producing 24 goals in total.
Overall, we are predicting a 2-2 draw, which is available at 12/1 (13.00).
> BTTS – Yes at 8/13 (1.62) | Likelihood: Probable
> Double chance – Draw/Red Star at 10/11 (1.91) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 3.5 goals at 13/8 (2.63) | Likelihood: Possible