Red Star Belgrade V Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday, 6 November 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker: MoPlay
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
Preview: Emphatically beaten 5-0 when the two sides clashed in London two weeks ago, Red Star Belgrade seemingly have their work cut out bridging the gulf that separates these two teams. Can another raucous atmosphere in the Serbian capital, inside the Rajko Mitic Stadium, prove a decisive factor when Tottenham Hotspur visit?
Red Star Belgrade V Tottenham Hotspur Live Stats & Betting Odds
Red Star Belgrade Preview – Formidable home record merits more respect?
The reverse meeting in London was a humbling experience for the most recognisable and decorated club in Serbia, failing to cause their hosts any problems in a heavy-yet-deserved 5-0 defeat. There is, however, enough evidence to suggest a more competitive showing is to be forthcoming from the Serbian SuperLiga champions second time around.
First and foremost, ‘The Red and Whites’ are at home. The support received inside their 55,000 capacity stadium will be vociferous, as is often the case in Europe, where they boast a formidable record of just two losses in their past 21 such matches (W11 D8 L2). That does include qualifiers but regardless, it’s mightily impressive. The latest of those a 3-1 come-from-behind win over Olympiacos on Matchday 2.
Were they to win on Wednesday it would mark their sixth consecutive victory on home soil in all competitions – none of the previous five were achieved whilst keeping a clean sheet, though. Meanwhile, that aforementioned loss away to Tottenham remains the only such result coach Vladen Milojevic has overseen in his previous ten competitive games in charge (W9 L1). So Red Star, with a passionate home backing and some encouraging form behind them, should not be dismissed lightly.
Tottenham Preview – Spurs away woes not disappearing anytime soon?
Impressive in dispatching the same opposition last time out in this competition when scoring five for the loss of no goals inside their swanky Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham have been anything but that since. Or even before. Or all season for that matter. So what appeared like a routine 5-0 win when the sides last met, and what would have been perceived as routine in seasons gone, is looking more like an anomaly. An outlier amid such dismal form.
Sunday’s turgid affair away to Everton in the Premier League was more of the same. It also stretched their woeful away form to eight without a win (D5 L3), despite taking the lead through Dele Alli. In that away sequence includes a 2-2 draw at Olympiacos on Matchday 1, an abomination of a scoreline at Brighton (L3-0) and that embarrassing cup exit on penalties at the expense of League Two side Colchester United.
Therefore, to surmise that Spurs are vulnerable making their way to Serbia would be a massive understatement. A team without an away win all season and which has only one win to its name – which was that comfortable victory over Red Star – in their last six competitive matches (W1 D2 L3). To add insult to injury (literally), star striker Harry Kane is doubtful because of illness while Son Heung-Min was visibly traumatised for his part in Sunday’s unfortunate incident involving Everton’s Andre Gomes.
Red Star Belgrade V Tottenham Hotspur Key Facts:
- Red Star Belgrade are unbeaten in six competitive home games, winning the previous five consecutively which includes a 3-1 triumph in this competition over Olympiacos.
- Tottenham Hotspur are yet to win an away fixture in 2019/20 (D5 L3), drawing 2-2 on Matchday One at Olympiacos.
- These sides clashed on Matchday 3 in England, a contest emphatically won 5-0 by Tottenham.
Betting Summary
Taking into account their odds (4/1 in most places), there is plenty to like about the home side. Red Star Belgrade possess a fearsome reputation on their own patch, especially in Europe, where they have lost two of their past 21 matches, but also in general – victory on Wednesday would be their sixth in a row at home in all competitions. The Serbian title holders came from behind to beat Olympiacos 3-1 in their only home encounter of the group thus far.
Recent form will tell us that Tottenham are no closer to their light at the end of the tunnel. Sunday’s drab 1-1 draw away to Everton in the league maintained their poor form which has seen them win only once in six competitive games – though that was a 5-0 trouncing of Red Star a fortnight ago. Away from home meanwhile, it is no win all season (D5 L3). Their only away fixture in this group so far came in Greece, drawing 2-2 with Olympiacos despite leading 2-0.
There can be no doubt Tottenham boast greater quality within their ranks. However, the season to date has been nowhere near the high standards set in recent campaigns. No away victory all season, in any competition, implies they are undeserving of being such strong favourites here. Instead, back goals. Spurs have kept one away clean sheet in 2019/20, while Red Star have seen each of their previous six at home return both teams to score.
