Crvena zvezda vs Barcelona prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-05 20:00.
[p]Red Star Belgrade warmed up for their UEFA Champions League (UCL) match against Barcelona with three consecutive domestic wins. But they’ll need every bit of inspiration here as they remain one of the six teams to have lost each of their first three matches in this UCL campaign, with the scale of the upcoming challenge for the Serbians laid bare by their recent record of eight defeats across the last nine matches in this competition (W1).[/p]
[p]The sole win in that sequence came at home in this season’s play-off against Bodø/Glimt, but that remains their only positive result across their last four UCL home games (L3). Securing all three points may be a far-fetched ambition, but they can at least target getting on the scoresheet, having averaged 2.6 goals per game across their last ten home matches in this competition.[/p]
[p]Goals could be in ample supply here considering Barcelona’s form, as they arrive here on the back of thumping derby rivals Espanyol 3-1. That was Barça’s sixth consecutive win, but even if they’re averaging four goals per game, the Catalans still need to improve their position in the League phase, after a 2-1 defeat to Monaco on matchday one left them playing catch up. They have grown in strength since that result though, having struck nine goals across their next two victories, including a comprehensive 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the last round.[/p]
[p]Those results give Barcelona a chance to score 4+ goals in three consecutive European games for the first time since the 1959/60 season, but they may be wary of being overconfident on this trip. Their two competitive defeats this season have come away from home and Barça have won just once across their last five UCL away matches (D1, L3)![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Cherif Ndiaye scored Red Star’s final goal in four of his last six scoring matches, including against Monaco on matchday three. One player from the Barcelona camp travelling with confidence is Raphinha, who has five goals and one assist in his last three club games, while he also netted three of his side’s four goals against Bayern.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Four of Barcelona’s last five UCL matches produced exactly five goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]