Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica
Champions League this season
View moreOutcome Breakdown
| GP | P | GD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 6 | 10 | 3 | |
| 31 | 6 | 3 | -9 |
SLB
CRV
Crvena Zvezda goes head-to-head with Benfica in UCL opening week.
Crvena Zvezda embarks on their UEFA Champions League adventure against Benfica at the historically daunting Red Star Stadium, where they hope to maintain their unbeaten record against Portuguese visitors.
Crvena Zvezda
Crvena Zvezda will begin their journey in the revamped UEFA Champions League, hoping to build on a strong start to the season. The Serbian side has suffered only one defeat in nine competitive matches across all competitions this season, which occurred in the UCL qualifying round.
The team lost 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of their UCL playoff but secured a 2-0 victory in the second leg to clinch qualification. Domestically, Crvena Zvezda sits at the top of the Serbian SuperLiga with 19 points, remaining unbeaten after seven matches, with their latest achievement a 2-0 win against FK Napredak Kruševac.
In UEFA's new format, where teams face eight different opponents for both home and away games, Crvena Zvezda will kick off their European campaign with a home match against Benfica. Manager Vladan Milojević expressed his honor in participating in this Champions League format: "It is a great honour for us to play in this format of the Champions League."
Historically, both teams clashed in the first round of the 1984-85 competition, with the hosts winning 3-2 at home, despite losing 2-0 away. Crvena Zvezda boasts a strong record against Portuguese teams on home soil, having never lost in three encounters. However, they hold the second-worst losing rate in the competition among teams with three or more participations.
The team is expected to line up in a 4—2—3—1 formation, with Bruno Duarte leading the attack against Benfica.
Benfica
Meanwhile, former Wolves boss Bruno Lage began his tenure as Benfica's manager on a high note, securing a 4-1 victory over Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga on Saturday. This result places them in fifth position after five matches [LWWDW]. "We haven't won anyone back; we've played a game, and that's three points," Lage remarked following the triumph.
The Eagles aim to replicate this performance and result as they journey to Serbia on Thursday. However, Benfica has faced challenges in their opening UEFA Champions League matches over the past several years, securing only one win in their last seven opening games [1W, 2D, & 4L].
Moreover, they have won just one of their last eight matches in the competition [1W, 2D, & 5L], although they did achieve a victory in their most recent UCL game against Salzburg last December. The visitors are expected to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Vangelis Pavlidis leading the attack.
Team form
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Team Comparison
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