Uefa Cup preview: Crvena Zvezda – Bolton (Source: Goal.com)
Premier League strugglers Bolton Wanderers travel to Serbia to take on Crvena Zvezda on Matchday 4 of Uefa Cup Group F.
Defeat Not An Option For Bolton
This is Bolton’s final Group F match, and they know that qualification will almost certainly swing on the result of Thursday’s game in Belgrade.
In Europe it’s often a case of a club’s home form and away form differing hugely. What’s unusual for Bolton thus far is that it is away from the Reebok stadium that their greatest Uefa Cup feat was achieved.
1-1 draws at home to Braga and Aris are hardly the stuff of legend, but the Trotters’ 2-2 draw in Munich against the mighty Bayern was rightly heralded as the greatest European night in their history.
While another draw – putting Wanderers on 4 points – might be enough to make the knock-out stages, defeat in Serbia would certainly see Gary Megson’s side crash out.
Munich’s Allianz Arena may have been intimidating due to the stature of the opposition, but the Trotters will face true hostility at Stadion Crvena Zvezda on Thursday night.
If Bolton want to remain in the Uefa Cup, replicating the performance that saw them hammered 4-0 at the weekend by Liverpool is not an option.
Crvena Zvezda In Need Of A Win
Crvena Zvezda (better known internationally as Red Star Belgrade) are not the European heavyweights that they once were, but Aleksandar Janković’s side remain a team nobody relishes facing.
Two games into their Group F campaign, the 1991 European Champions have yet to pick up a single point. A last gasp goal from youngster Toni Kroos saw Bayern sneak all three points in an entertaining 3-2 win at the Stadion Crvena Zvezda on Matchday 1.
If the Serbians were unlucky then, they were spineless on Matchday 2. Slumping to a 3-0 defeat away to Aris, coach Milorad Kosanović tendered his resignation.
With two group games remaining, the Serbian champions still harbour hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages, but a defeat at home to Bolton on Thursday is not an option. The omens are good, however – in seven games they’ve yet to lose to an English side on home soil.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Crvena Zvezda – João Lucas
The Portuguese surprised many by opting to leave Boavista for Serbia in the summer. The midfielder has attracted attention from the likes of Benfica, Tottenham and Sevilla in the past, and his aggressive nature will be important against this physical Bolton side.
Bolton – Nicolas Anelka
Bolton will almost certainly need a goal to get anything from this game, and recent results show there’s only one man they can rely on. Wanderers have only scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, with the Frenchman coming up with eight of them. Megson’s side will look to utilise Anelka’s pace on the counter attack.
PREDICTION
Bolton are low on confidence, and while Crvena Zvezda are still finding their feet under new coach Janković, home advantage should see them prevail.
Crvena Zvezda 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Last match starting lineup(
http://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/en/index.aspx ):
Red Star: Randjelovic – Basta, Djordjevic, Tutoric, Bronowicki – Segundo Castillo, Milijas – Molina (61’ Milovanovic), Burzanovic, Koroman – Jestrovic (68’ Betoligar)
A number of regular players, like Lucas, Gueye, Andjelkovic,…,have missed the last league match!The new addition to the squad is powerful African player Misdongard Betoligar who was also linking with French sides PSG and FC Lille!Red Star are also boosted by the return of captain Dejan Milovanovic who missed both opening UEFA Cup matches.He’s in good form at the moment, with two cracking goals in the last three matches!Forward Nenad Jestrovic(4 goals in last 3 matches) is also getting better under new coach Jankovic!
The likes of Segundo Castillo and Lucas are a very aggressive players who’re making lots of pressure in the middle of the park, so I guess we’re gonna see a big battle in this clash!
The match will be broadcasted live on DSF!