Preview: Red Star Belgrade vs. FC Midtjylland - prediction, team news, lineups

Red Star Belgrade will be looking to tighten their hold on top spot in Europa League Group F when they welcome FC Midtjylland to Rajko Mitic Stadium on Thursday evening.

The Serbian heavyweights have won two and drawn one of their opening three games and are a point clear at the summit, while Midtjylland are five points worse off in third.

Match preview

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After the disappointment of missing out on a place in the Champions League, Red Star have picked themselves up by taking control of their Europa League group at the midway point.

The Red-Whites beat Braga 2-1 and Ludogorets 1-0 in their first two games before being held 1-1 by Midtjylland when the sides met in Denmark two weeks ago.

Mirko Ivanic put the visitors in front, but they could not hold on and Nikolas Dyhr struck 12 minutes from time to keep Group F alive.

Since that contest a fortnight ago, Red Star's long-running unbeaten domestic run - spanning some 16 months - has been brought to an end by Radnik Surdulica.

Dejan Stankovic's side trail bitter rivals Partizan by eight points at the top of the Serbian SuperLiga with a game in hand, so there is plenty of work to do domestically.

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In Europe, however, Red Star are looking good value to qualify automatically for the Europa League last 16, rather than having to go through the preliminary knockout round.

With Braga strong favourites to beat Ludogorets Razgrad elsewhere on Thursday, Stankovic will know the importance of avoiding a slip-up on home soil against Midtjylland.

The visitors have drawn with Ludogorets and Red Star either side of defeat to Braga and realistically need to win this game if they are to retain hope of advancing.

The Wolves are winless in seven games in the competition, though, while Red Star have only ever been defeated once in nine home matches in the Europa League.

Entering this game on a run of three straight wins domestically, Bo Henriksen's men will be eager to carry that form into continental action and close the gap on their opponents.

Team News

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Midtjylland have made only two changes to their starting XI in their three Europa League games this season, the joint-fewest of any side, using just 18 different players in total.

That suggests the Danish side will name a similar, if not identical, XI to the one that started the reverse fixture last month.

Should that be the case, Pione Sisto and Gustav Isaksen will lead the line. Brazilian forward Marrony is another option to come into attack should Henriksen change things around.

As for the home side, they may be in a good place in terms of their standing in Group F but Stankovic will not rest on his laurels by fielding a weakened side here.

Comoros international Ben has started all three Europa League games so far and will almost certainly get the nod up top again here.

Nenad Krsticic is among those pushing for a recall to the side after coming on as a half-time substitute in Denmark.

Red Star Belgrade possible starting lineup:
Borjan; Gobeljic, Dragovic, Degenek, Rodic; Srnic, Sanogo; Falco, Kaku, Ivanic; Ben

FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Olafsson; Dalsgaard, Sviatchenko, Paulinho; Andersson, Cajuste, Onyedika, Dyhr; Evander; Isaksen, Sisto

We say: Red Star Belgrade 2-0 FC Midtjylland

Midtjylland have an underwhelming record in Europe, particularly away from home, whereas Red Star do not tend to lose on their own patch.

The hosts will be motivated to strengthen their status as Group F leaders and we can see them comfortably doing so here, avenging the 1-1 draw from two weeks ago in the process.

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