Crvena zvezda vs Young Boys prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-10-03 19:00.
Red Star Belgrade will have been proud of their efforts in their return to UEFA Champions League (UCL) action last time out, taking a surprise first-half lead at holders Manchester City. Unfortunately for the Serbian side, the reigning champions roared back in the second half to secure a 3-1 win, but that performance, plus a 1-0 win in their only domestic game since, might inspire confidence as they eye up their first UCL group stage success since a 3-1 home win against Olympiacos in October 2019.
All the other group stage matches that year ended in defeats âto nilâ for Red Star, illustrating just how big of a step up this competition can be for the Serbian outfit. They have only lost two of their nine home matches in the group stage of European competitions since then though (all in the Europa League – W6, D1) and will probably see the visit of Swiss side Young Boys as a much more attainable opportunity for victory.
Coincidentally, Young Boysâ opening UCL game also ended in a 3-1 defeat, but theirs came at home to RB Leipzig. Two wins and a defeat across their three league matches since then indicates that theyâre not quite firing on all cylinders right now and they also have a less-than-desirable winless record against teams from Serbia to further deal with (D4, L2) – four of those games came in meetings with Red Star back in 2004/05 and 2019/20 (D3, L1).
Despite that record, itâs worth noting that the Swiss champions have rarely been overawed on their recent European travels, as including qualifiers, theyâve not conceded a goal in four European away matches. In fact, only Villarreal and FerencvĂĄros have managed to score more than a single goal against them in away trips across the last three campaigns (W4, D4, L2).
Players to watch: Red Starâs Osman Bukari scored their goal at Manchester City on matchday one, and his three other competitive strikes this season have all come in wins âto nilâ. Meschack Eliaâs goal for Young Boys in the first gameweek was one of two this season to open the scoring for his side in eventual defeats.
Hot streak: Red Star are protecting a 21-game unbeaten home run across all competitions (W19, D2).