Crvena zvezda vs Viktoria Plzen

Crvena Zvezda host Viktoria Plzen on 20 August at Stadion Rajko Mitić in the first leg of the Europa League play-off round — the winner reaches the league phase, the loser drops into the Conference League. Crvena Zvezda top the Serbian Super Liga, while Viktoria Plzen sit 12th in the Czech First League. Form favors the hosts. Crvena Zvezda have won three of their last five matches, conceding just four goals, with wins over Vojvodina and Novi Pazar. Viktoria Plzen are winless in five and leaking goals, including a wild 5-5 draw with Teplice. Watch Bruno Duarte and Vasilije Kostov, both among Crvena Zvezda's top performers this season, alongside captain Aleksandar Katai. Viktoria Plzen's Christophe Kabongo is their leading scorer. The two clubs have never met before, so there's no history between them. Expect a tight opener in Belgrade. Our prediction: 2-1