Red Star Belgrade was beaten 5-1 by Monaco in their previous Champions League match and now faces what is probably the toughest task in European football as FC Barcelona travels to the Serbian capital.
Hansi Flick's side also lost to Monaco this season, bowing out in the principality after Eric Garcia was sent off in the opening game of the league stage.
Since then, the Blaugrana have gone from strength to strength, beating Young Boys 5-0 in their next Champions League game before clinically dismantling Bayern Munich 4-1 last time out.
Barca also enjoyed themselves at the expense of their two biggest domestic opponents on back-to-back weekends, edging out city rivals Espanyol 3-1 a week after silencing the Santiago Bernabeu with a stunning 4-0 win over the Spanish and European champions Real Madrid.
What time does Red Star Belgrade vs Barcelona kick-off?
Start:
- EST (Eastern Standard Time): Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 3:00 PM
- PST (Pacific Standard Time): Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 12:00 PM
- GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 8:00 PM
- CET (Central European Time): Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 9:00 PM
- Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 1:30 AM IST
Venue: Red Star Stadium
Formula:
Red Star Belgrade (all competitions): V-V-V-V
FC Barcelona (all competitions): W-W-W-W-W
Face to Face:
This is the first time they will face each other in the Champions League.
Red Star Belgrade vs Barcelona lineups, team news
Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic will likely have to do without goalkeeper Omri Glazer and right-back Ognjen Mimovic. Glazer has missed Red Star's last three Serbian Super Liga games after being sidelined for almost two months with an adductor injury earlier in the season.
Mimovic is recovering from a bruised metatarsal and is at least expected to return before left wing Peter Olayinka, whose Achilles injury will keep him out until the New Year.
Barcelona will always be synonymous with the original and the best, but they have to do better than the last player nicknamed "Little Messi". Andrija Maksimovic has made a splash with Red Star this season and made his international debut for Serbia last month. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder scored in the weekend's 3-0 win in Vojvodina.
Expected formation of Red Star Belgrade (4-3-3, from right to left): M. Ilic (GK) - Rodic, Djiga, Spajic, Seol - Kanga, Krunic - Milson, Maksimovic, Silas - Ndiaye
Injured: Glazer, Mimovic, Olayinka, Ivanic, Radonjic
Suspended: none
Ferran Torres (hamstring), Eric Garcia (muscle), and Andreas Christensen (Achilles) are all expected to return to action later this month, but the trip to Belgrade comes too soon for the trio.
If Flick opts to change the formation he criticized for the second-half strike against Espanyol, it could mean the opportunity to start Ansu Fati and Frenkie de Jong. Fermin Lopez should also be given another chance at the start after his excellent performance against Bayern and Flick will have to watch out for another setback for Dani Olmo. Gavi made four short substitute appearances after returning from an ACL injury and could be set for a longer outing.
Expected Barcelona formation (4-3-3, from right to left): Pena (GK) - Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde - De Jong, Pedri, Fermin Lopez - Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Fati
Injured: Torres, Garcia, Christensen, Araujo, Bernal, Ter Stegen
Suspended: none
Red Star Belgrade vs Barcelona Prediction
FC Barcelona has been one of the most dangerous attacking units in Europe this season and has had a winning streak going. We expect a comprehensive victory against Red Star Belgrade.
Prediction: Red Star Belgrade 0-4 FC Barcelona
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