UEFA Champions League: Red Star Belgrade vs Manchester City Live
Preview
Defending Champions League titleholders Manchester City will journey to Serbia to play against Red Star Belgrade at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in their last Group G match on Wednesday. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Manchester City overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Red Star 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September during the first matchday.
Red Star Belgrade’s upcoming match against Man City on Wednesday will be their last European game of the 2023-24 season. They are guaranteed to finish at the bottom of Group G and be eliminated from European competition, having lost four matches and drawn one in the Champions League so far.
Despite missing the opportunity to secure third place in the group and move down to the Europa League, they have responded by winning their last three domestic matches, including a 3-1 victory over Mladost Lucani in the Serbian SuperLiga. This win also set a new European record for the longest unbeaten league run at home, with Red Star going 122 games without defeat. They will now focus on their upcoming Champions League match against Man City, aiming to avoid consecutive home defeats in the competition for the first time since 2019.
After a series of three draws and one loss in their last four Premier League games, the reigning champions Man City managed to secure a much-needed 2-1 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Sunday. Despite trailing at halftime due to a close-range header from Elijah Adebayo, Man City turned the game around in the second half with two quick goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish. This win helped them secure three crucial points.
Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table, Man City is preparing for a busy schedule with six upcoming fixtures across all competitions in 17 days to end the year. This includes a midweek clash at Red Star, a Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace, and two Club World Cup fixtures in Saudi Arabia, followed by top-flight games against Everton and Sheffield United. Additionally, they have the opportunity to become the second English club after Liverpool to win all six Champions League group-stage matches in a single season. If they win on Wednesday, they will also become the first English team in European Cup/Champions League history to secure eight consecutive victories in the competition.
Head-to-head
This will mark the teams’ first encounter since Manchester City came from behind to beat Red Star 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in September during the initial match of the season.
Prediction
Red Star will aim to finish the group stage strongly and may have a good opportunity to defeat the current European champions, who might make significant changes to their team as they have already secured a spot in the knockout rounds. However, Man City will be eager to continue their momentum from last weekend’s victory over Luton. Guardiola’s chosen lineup is expected to be strong enough to outscore their Serbian opponents and secure maximum points.
