Crvena Zvezda vs Copenhagen: Can Belgrade Trouble the League Stage Leaders?

The league stage table already tells a story. FC Copenhagen sit second of 36 teams with three points and a goal difference of +3 after their opener. FK Crvena Zvezda are 24th, still without a point and with a goal difference of -1 following a defeat. Thursday’s meeting at the Rajko Mitić Stadium is the underdog’s chance to disrupt that early picture.

Two openers, two different starts

Copenhagen began their campaign with a win, while Crvena Zvezda lost theirs. That gap is only one matchday old, but it frames the night. The home side will need to show something quickly if they want to avoid falling further behind a group of rivals.

Copenhagen’s relentless scoring

The visitors have been difficult to stop. Across their last five matches they have scored 15 goals and conceded only two, and they have not lost in seven outings this season, winning five and drawing two. Their defensive record is just as solid, with three clean sheets already. Crvena Zvezda, by contrast, have scored twice and conceded three in their only fixture so far, and their away defeat leaves them with plenty to prove on their own ground.

Two draws and a long memory

The sides have met before, in two Champions League ties in 2019. Copenhagen and Crvena Zvezda drew 2-2 in Denmark, then 1-1 in Belgrade. Neither result gave either side a clear edge, and both meetings were settled by a single goal apiece on the scoreboard.

Our prediction

PreviaXI’s model also leans towards the visitors. Copenhagen’s attacking consistency, with goals spread across their recent matches and a tight defence, makes them the more likely side to dictate the game. Crvena Zvezda have the home crowd and the chance to create openings, and this could be a tight, physical contest. Still, the away side’s form and balance should be enough to edge it.

FK Crvena Zvezda 1-2 FC Copenhagen