Red Star Belgrade vs Sassuolo
2016/17 Europa League Play-Off
Date: Thursday, 25 August 2016,
Kick-Off: 19:30 UK
Venue: Red Star Stadium (Belgrade).
Red Star Belgrade has a mountain to climb when they welcome Sassuolo for the second leg clash of the Europa League play-off fixture.
Sassuolo surprise everyone by finishing by 6th in the Italian Serie A last season. It seems like they are reluctant to take the feet of the pedal and started their competitive season in style. A draw at Luzern in the third round of Europa League qualifier was finished off with an excellent 3-0 win at home. Now Red Star Belgrade stand between them and a place in the group stages of the European competition. And their job is half done with a 3-0 home win in the first leg a week ago.
Domenico Berardi, Matteo Politano and Gregoire Defrel got on the score-sheet for Sassuolo as they brushed aside Red Star to carry an insatiable lead for the second leg. While the Serbian giants reached the Euorpa League play-off after crashing out of the Champions League qualifier after the 6-4 aggregate loss to Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad. Now they need some-kind of a miracle to end their long wait for European football.
Red Star Belgrade vs Sassuolo: Head-to-Head Stats
The first leg clash which ended in 3-0 win for Sassuolo is the the first ever meeting between these two sides.
Red Star has a poor record against Italian sides after managing just 2 wins from the 18 matches, while they lost 10 and drawn 6. Their home record against teams from Italy is 1 win, 3 draws and 5 defeats from 9 matches.
Red Star Belgrade vs Sassuolo: Prediction
Sassuolo has a massive 3-goal lead to defend and they are very close to make history by earning their first ever appearance in a UEFA tournament. And their form has been excellent this summer and kick started their domestic league campaign with a 1-0 away win at Palermo on Sunday.
Red Star are not a bad side and are doing well in the Serbian league. But their recent record in Europe is quite disappointing. They are without a win in the last six matches in the qualifying round since 2013. And they are not expected to trouble a brilliant Sassuolo.
Red Star Belgrade vs Sassuolo: Tips
- Sassuolo/Draw – Double Chance at 1.40.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.66.
