Lille is set to face Etoile Rouge on Thursday in the second leg of their knockout tie in the UEFA Europa Conference League (C3), looking to turn around their fortunes. The Serbian side, Etoile Rouge, holds a historic advantage, as they have not won a two-legged knockout tie in European competitions for almost two decades, with their last success dating back to 2007 against Polish team Grodzisk Wielkopolski. Their confidence is bolstered by a 1-0 victory in the first leg against Lille, along with a similar scoreline against the French team during the group stage match in Belgrade last November.
Etoile Rouge has demonstrated impressive form at home, having lost only once in their last thirteen home matches across all competitions. They have shown a consistent scoring pattern, netting exactly one goal in eleven of their last twelve European matches, signifying a challenge for Lille, who must aim for at least two goals to secure advancement.
Historically, French clubs have had a mixed record in Belgrade, winning four out of six meetings, excluding preliminary rounds. However, Lille’s recent performance paints a cautious picture, as they suffered a defeat in their autumn visit to Belgrade, a result that adds pressure to their current campaign. Moreover, Lille has struggled in knockout stages of European competitions, winning just two of their last sixteen away matches, comprising seven draws and seven losses. Notably, the club has never progressed in European competitions when losing the first leg, underscoring the critical nature of this upcoming match.
On a positive note, Lille can draw from their past successes, having achieved 22 continental away victories since 2001, including a noteworthy win against AS Roma this season. With Turkish goalkeeper Berke Özer notably saving three consecutive penalties in that match, Lille’s team will need to channel this resilient spirit as they head into what promises to be a challenging encounter.
The match will take place at the Rajko-Mitic stadium, popularly known as the Marakana, on Thursday, February 26, at 6:45 pm. Fans can catch the live broadcast on sports.orange.fr, as well as on Canal+ Foot, making it a highly anticipated clash for supporters of both teams.