Red Star Belgrade vs FC Copenhagen Predictions

After winning the home leg by two goals to nil, Crvena, who’re better known as Red Star Belgrade to English football fans, were in a seemingly comfortable position ahead of their trip to Helsinki, though after losing by two goals to one, they only just made it through. Now against strong opposition, it is critical that Crvena get a positive result at home.

Facing Copenhagen won’t be easy, but Tuesday’s hosts come into this fixture off the back of some pleasing qualifying efforts. They may have lost the second leg against HJK, though as they emerged from that game with an expected goal difference of +0.08, it’s fair to say that their defeat wasn’t exactly merited. What’s more, having come through the entire tie with an expected goal difference +1.94, Crvena are fully deserving of their place in the third qualifying round.

What’s more, the fact that the Serbians have saved their best attacking efforts for when playing at home bodes well. Against Suduva during the first qualifying round, Vladan Milojević’s men scored twice and created 1.74 expected goals for, while they also scored twice and created a pleasing 1.89 expected goals for when scoring twice against HJK.

Unlike their hosts, Copenhagen have taken part in just one qualifying round so far. Tuesday’s visitors go to Belgrade off the back of a comfortable 3-0 aggregate win over Welsh side TNS. They were up against weak opposition, but there was plenty to like about the way the Danes got the job done without a fuss. Away from home, they created more than their opponents on route to a 2-0 win, while they were similarly solid when topping up their lead, winning by a goal to nil, at home.

In the betting, after a decent home performance during the previous round, Crvena are predictably favourites, though they make little appeal at such a short price. Copenhagen are yet to be seriously tested in qualifying, but they would well be a tad too big. However, the best option at the current prices, appears to be ‘Both Teams to Score’ the best option.

Crvena, by scoring four goals and posting expected goals for figures of 1.74 and 1.89, have looked strong going forward at home, while the visitors offered plenty both home and away during the previous round, scoring three goals and delivering expected goals for numbers of 1.49 and 1.45. If we consider this in conjunction with the fact that Tuesday’s hosts, for all they looked strong offensively, struggled to keep minnows Suduva at bay, conceding a single goal and shipping 1.86 expected goals, then a bet on both teams to notch certainly looks viable.