line-ups

FK Crvena zvezda

Matheus – Seol Young-Woo, Luckassen (85. Tebo Uchenna), Veljkovič, Elšnik – Ivanič (72. Katai), Krunič, Kostov (84. Bajo) – Bukari (90. Loizou), Arnautovič (72. Enem), Cham.

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Memič, Dweh, Krčík (86. Spáčil), Doski – Ladra (61. Pirgič), Červ, Prebsl (73. Višinský), Souaré (46. Kabongo) – Hrošovský – Adu (73. Vydra).

statistics

Goals: 36. Ivanič (Elšnik), 53. Ivanič (Elšnik), 89. Katai (pen.)

Yellow cards:31. Young-Woo (CZB), 81. Kostov (CZB) – 45+3. Souaré (PLZ), 77. Hrošovský (PLZ), 84. Dweh (PLZ), 88. Spáčil (PLZ)

Referees: Eskås – Engan, Rossland (NOR)

Shots on goal: 7:5

Shots off target: 5:1

Corners: 1:2

Offside: 1:1

Fouls: 5:6

Attendance:

The first leg of the Europa League play-off is behind us. Viktoria suffered a 3–0 defeat to Crvena zvezda at the Marakana in Belgrade and will fight for a place in the league phase in the home second leg.

Crvena zvezda kicked off the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off on home soil. Viktoria created their first promising move through Doski, who picked out the onrushing Memić. His attempt was deflected out of play, giving Plzeň a corner in the second minute, but it did not lead to any danger in front of the hosts’ goal. A brief lapse in the Viktoria defence handed Crvena zvezda their first opportunity in the sixth minute, but the resulting effort went well wide. Viktoria threatened again in the 12th minute. Červ found Memić making a run forward, who laid the ball off to Hrošovský, whose low strike forced the home goalkeeper into a good save. At the start of the 17th minute, Arnautović got in behind the Plzeň defence and beat Wiegele, but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee’s raised flag. Five minutes later, Souaré tried his luck from distance but failed to hit the target. The hosts then threatened again, although their next effort also went wide. The score remained goalless after the opening half an hour. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 36th minute when Ivanić found space behind the Plzeň defence, managed to squeeze the ball past Wiegele and put Crvena zvezda ahead. Viktoria looked to respond before the break. Hrošovský repeatedly called for the ball and eventually received it before combining with Adu inside the penalty area, but the home defence intervened at the last moment to clear the danger. There was no further action of note before half-time, meaning Crvena zvezda headed into the dressing room with a one-goal lead, backed by their passionate home support.

Wiegele was called into action in the 48th minute and comfortably dealt with Bukari’s header. Four minutes later, Adu waited for Prebsl to make a run in behind the defence before eventually playing him through. Prebsl got to the ball, rounded the home goalkeeper and then went to ground. Any potential foul was irrelevant, however, as the assistant referee had already raised the flag for offside. The punishment came moments later at the other end. A cross from the flank travelled through the penalty area and found Ivanić, who made no mistake to score his second goal of the night and double Crvena zvezda’s advantage. Viktoria had a fortunate escape in the 55th minute. Bukari once again found himself in a dangerous position, but collided with Arnautović inside the box and the subsequent effort went wide. A minute later, the hosts threatened in similar fashion from the opposite side, but Červ recovered in time to clear the ball to safety. Shortly after coming off the bench, Vydra looked to pick out Kabongo in front of goal in the 74th minute. Kabongo managed to get his shot away, but the home goalkeeper was equal to it. In the 87th minute, a possible penalty incident inside Viktoria’s box was reviewed. After consulting VAR, the referee pointed to the spot. Katai stepped up and confidently converted the penalty. There were no further goals at the Marakana, meaning Viktoria return home from the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off with a three-goal deficit to overturn in the second leg.

Highlights

Photogallery