At 4:00 AM China Time on November 7, the Champions League will see a Round 4 clash as Red Star Belgrade hosts Barcelona at home.
Red Star Belgrade is a powerhouse from the Serbian SuperLiga, dominating the league for many years. In this season’s league, they have achieved an unbeaten record of 12 wins and 1 draw after just 13 rounds, accumulating 37 points to lead the league table. They are already 10 points ahead of the second-place team, making it clear that other teams in the domestic league pose no threat to them. As a result, the team has shifted its focus entirely to the Champions League.
In the previous Champions League qualifying rounds, Red Star Belgrade surprisingly reversed their fortunes against strong opponents Bodø/Glimt, advancing to the group stage. However, once in the main tournament, the gap between them and other top clubs became evident. In the first three matches, they lost 1-2 to Benfica, suffered a 0-4 defeat to Inter Milan, and were crushed 1-5 by Monaco, resulting in three consecutive losses. Notably, they conceded 11 goals in these three games, struggling to adapt to the high intensity of attacks from other teams. Their offensive prowess, which dominates the domestic league, has not translated well to the European stage, with only 2 goals scored. To achieve success in the Champions League, the team may need to adopt a defensive counter-attacking strategy, which is not their forte.
The team currently has only one player, Olaïnka, on the injury list, and a healthy squad is their strength in facing top clubs. However, the overall disparity in quality remains a significant challenge.
Barcelona has also had a strong start to the current La Liga season, winning 11 out of the first 12 matches and suffering only one loss. In their recent two matches, they secured a 4-0 victory in the El Clásico away and followed it up with a 3-1 win over Espanyol in the Catalan Derby. These consecutive derby victories have boosted the team’s confidence, and despite being away, they are confident of securing another win.
In the first three group stage matches of the Champions League, Barcelona started poorly with a surprising 1-2 loss to Monaco. However, they quickly found their form, thrashing Swiss Super League giants Young Boys 5-0 and then defeating Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich 4-1. The team has fully regained their winning momentum, scoring 10 goals and conceding only 3 in the first three matches, demonstrating their formidable attacking power and solid defense. This season, Barcelona’s goal is to secure a double crown.
Barcelona has several injured players, including García, Torres, Ter Stegen, Christensen, and Araújo, who will miss the upcoming matches. However, the team’s depth is strong, and while the injuries do have some impact, they are not significantly detrimental.
The two teams have no historical head-to-head records. Barcelona’s sharp offensive performance and high ball possession requirements contrast sharply with Red Star Belgrade’s offensive style. Red Star Belgrade may find the match challenging, as they may struggle to gain control of the ball and will likely rely on counter-attacks. For Barcelona, they hold a significant advantage in all aspects.
>>”>For more predictions and analysis of this match, click here>>>
