Europa League
2026-02-19 - Lille vs Crvena Zvezda
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; UEFA Europa League Playoffs - 1st leg
Stade Pierre Mauroy – Lille, France
Thursday, 19th February 2026 - kickoff 21:00 CET
Lille
Lille arrive in this Europa League playoff tie with a mixed recent record. Across all competitions, they have been inconsistent, losing three of their last six matches (one win) and scoring less than expected given the quality in their squad.
At home in Europe, they have been competitive, winning three of their last four Europa League matches at Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Their only previous meeting with Crvena Zvezda this season ended in a 1-0 defeat in Belgrade last November, with a late penalty deciding the match.
Lille finished the Europa League league phase with four wins and four losses, showing a streaky profile that could swing either way in knockout ties.
Lille’s attacking strength has dipped recently, scoring just three goals in their last five games across competitions.
Crvena Zvezda
Crvena Zvezda arrives in better recent form and with more momentum. They have been unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 competitive matches, spanning domestic and European fixtures.
However, their domestic league is weak because they have no real competition, with all opponents several classes below them in quality.
In the Europa League group phase, they finished with four wins, two draws, and two losses, scoring and conceding at a moderate rate.
They are a team that usually starts slow in Europe. Crvena Zvezda scored just twice in the first half in their eight group games this season, but the positive thing is that they scored in all of their last five European games.
The Betting Verdict
Lille have the edge at home and should control the game early, using their attacking options to test Crvena Zvezda. The visitors are solid but usually struggle on the road in Europe.
I expect a tight game, with Lille likely to take a narrow win and hold an advantage into the second leg.
The Pick :
Lille 1-0 Crvena Zvezda
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Lille to win at odds of 1.70 with SportBet.One
