LILLE, France (Interstat) — A crucial Europa League knockout stage tie hangs in the balance Thursday when Lille hosts FK Crvena zvezda at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The Round of 32 second leg is finely poised after the Serbian champions secured a 1-0 home victory in the first meeting on Nov. 6, 2025. Lille, needing to overturn that deficit to advance, will rely on its home pitch, where it has been strong domestically this season.

The French side, known as LOSC, enters with mixed recent form. It is unbeaten in its last three matches across all competitions, including a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw with Brest on Saturday. However, its European form has been inconsistent, with a concerning 2-1 loss to AD Ceuta FC in the group stage in January. Manager Paulo Fonseca will demand a sharper performance against a disciplined opponent.

FK Crvena zvezda, often referred to internationally as Red Star Belgrade, has built its success on defensive resilience. It arrives unbeaten in its last five Europa League matches, with four wins and a draw. That streak includes a 1-1 result against Ceuta on Jan. 29 and a 1-0 win over Malmo FF on Jan. 22. Its European campaign has been defined by narrow victories, with four 1-0 wins in its last six continental outings.

The visitors’ blueprint from November — a stout defensive effort and a capitalized chance — will likely be the model again. They have shown an ability to grind out results on the road in Europe this season, including wins at Malmo and SK Sturm Graz.

Lille’s attack, led by Jonathan David, will be tasked with breaking down that stubborn defense. The Canadian forward’s pace and finishing will be central to Lille’s hopes of progression.

According to the Interstat game simulator, the projected final score is a 1-1 draw, which would see Crvena zvezda advance 2-1 on aggregate.

The winner of this tie will advance to the Europa League round of 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. local time (2000 GMT).