Denmark and Serbian champion will face each other in 3rd round of Champions League qualification today at stadium Rajko Mitic in Belgrade. It is going to be interesting match. Temperature in Belgrade is very high as hot air mass from Africa is moving over country. However temperature on Stadium will be even higher tonight as all expect spectacle in front of around 50,000 Red Star supporters. They can make atmosphere where players can not hear each other on the pitch. That can be frightening to some squads. Coach of FC Copenhagen is well aware of that. He said that atmosphere can influence on his players to show worse performance.

Red Star

Red Star is one team in front at home and other when play away. Their stadium can swallow even bigger clubs than Copenhagen. Serbian side won 2 games in domestic Ling-long Superliga so far against Javor and Radnicki Nish with 2:0. In previous round of qualification they won Helsinki with same result and Suduva 2:1. They played 0:0 against Suduva away and lost 2:1 against Helsinki away. That was last game they played. Match against Vozdovac was postponed because of this Champions League qualification game. They didn't look good against Helsinki away, but I think they just played enough for elimination of that club with wish to hide some cards from FC Copenhagen. Squad is solid with very good play maker Marin and dangerous attack with Ben, Boakye (or Pavkov) and Jevtovic. They usually play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 at home in domestic league. In Champions league they play usually 4-2-3-1. It looked like this against Helsinki:

FC Copenhagen

FC Copenhagen has impressive record in Denmark league with 4 wins. They won OB 2:3, AGF 2:1, Horsens 0:2 and SønderjyskE 2:1. In last round of Champions League qualification they eliminated The New Saints with two wins 0:2 and 1:0. They know only for victories, but tonight game will be something different. Their style of play is 4-4-2 and it looks like this:

Champion of Denmark sold their best player, top league goal scorer who played on right wing week ago. He went in Bundesliga. Coach was not very pleased with that move by chairman.

Game analyze

Red Star loves to play on counter attacks, players in front of goal are very skillful and fast. When ball come to them it can be very dangerous. However players who play behind those 4 are not so good and might have troubles with delivering balls to attack. FC Copenhagen should try to prevent them from coming in final third of field and try to take ball away and run in counter attacks with 4 players. If they mange to do that and mark the best Red Star player Marin good game could end in their favor. Of course they should not get burned in hell atmosphere on stadium. If they lose themselves in atmosphere and let ball easily come to Marin they can be in big trouble and could concede more than 2 goals. In my opinion the weakest link in Red Star is right back Stojkovic because he made a lot of mistakes during a game. Fisher could do some damage on that side. Red Star will have heavy task to prevent counter attacks of FC Copenhagen and to stop Fisher on Stojkovic's right side. A lot will depend on defensive midfielders. If they manage to deliver balls toward Marin and attackers without big troubles that could decide the game because when ball comes to those players it become dangerous for opponent.

Coach of Copenhagen said that he is aware of atmosphere and that main task for his side would be to "stay in the game" after this first leg. His wish is to have active result for second leg and has big hopes from Copenhagen game. He noticed that Red Star play much worse away and see their chances in second leg. Big minus for him is selling of the best player and that fact reduces chances of his side. My opinion is that Red Star is going to win this game with 1 or maybe 2 goal margin, but with conceding at least 1 goal. I think result will be something like 2:1, 3:2 or maybe 3:1 for Serbian side. Then they will try hard to defend that advantage in second leg.

Soccer / red star v fc copenhagen

Champions League Red Star V FC Copenhagen Match Preview

Champions League Red Star V FC Copenhagen Match Preview

Champions League Red Star V FC Copenhagen Match Preview