Red Star Belgrade vs Celta Vigo Prediction: Red Star to grind out another positive result in Belgrade

One of the most fascinating league-phase fixtures in the Uefa Europa League this week comes from Belgrade, Serbia, where Red Star Belgrade, 11th in the 36-team table, take on a Celta Vigo side three places and one point below them. Both clubs are assured of a top-24 and play-off spot, but one of them could move up to the top eight and secure automatic entry to the last 16 with a victory on Thursday (20:00 GMT, Discovery+).

Below are my Red Star Belgrade vs Celta Vigo predictions, supported by team news and match odds, ahead of this midweek meeting at the Stadion Rajko Mitic.

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Team News

Red Star boss Dejan Stankovic appears to have a fully-fit squad to choose from, and after enjoying the weekend off, he could name the same starting XI as last week's 1-0 win at Malmo.

Football Odds

Celta Vigo head coach Claudio Giraldez isn't quite so lucky as he is without injured defender Manuel Fernandez (leg), as well as suspended duo Williot Swedberg and Hugo Sotelo.

Red Star Belgrade vs Celta Vigo Odds

Red Star are 5/4 favourites to win on Thursday, implying a 44.4% probability of success, with Celta 2/1, or a 33.3% chance, and the draw offered at 5/2.

Marko Arnautovic To Score The First Goal has been boosted from 9/2 to 11/2.

Double Chance & Over/Under +2.5 - Red Star or Draw & Under 2.5 @ 13/8

This has been a winning selection in all three of Red Star's home games in the UEL league phase, with a 1-1 draw against Celtic followed by 1-0 victories over Lille OSC and FCSB.

Celta, meanwhile, have lost two of their three away matches, suffering a 2-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart and a 3-2 reverse at Ludogorets, either side of a 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb.

Today's Football Fixtures

The two sides are separated by just a point after seven rounds of fixtures, and with Red Star boasting such a strong defensive record at home, backing the Serbians in the Double Chance market, with under 2.5 goals, looks like the smart play here.

Home Team Total Corners Over/Under +5.5 - Over 5.5 @ 1/1

Red Star have taken 19 corners across their first three home matches against Celtic (eight), Lille (five) and FCSB (six), averaging 6.33 per game.

Celta, meanwhile, have conceded 15 across their first three away contests against Stuttgart (nine), Dinamo Zagreb (five) and Ludogorets (one), averaging five per game.

The hosts will be pressing for a goal to claim all three points and boost their top-eight hopes, so expect Celta to be under siege at times on Thursday.

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