Red Star take big step toward Europa League group stage with 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen

Red Star Belgrade delivered a commanding performance on 20 August 2026, beating Viktoria Plzen 3:0 in the first leg of the Europa League playoff in Belgrade. The scoreline and the timing of the goals give the Serbian side a clear advantage ahead of the return match.

The hosts opened the scoring through Ivanić in the 36th minute and doubled their lead early in the second half when Ivanić struck again in the 53rd minute. A late penalty converted by Katai in the 88th minute completed the 3-0 victory and left Red Star one step from the competition’s main phase.

Elsewhere on the night Ferencvaros produced a surprise away win at Trabzonspor, prevailing 1-0 thanks to a 17th-minute header by Kristoffer Zachariassen. The Hungarian side managed to contain the high-profile addition to the Turkish squad, Mohamed Salah, who made his debut in the starting lineup.

Beşiktaş continued their strong start to the domestic season with a 3-0 home win over Kauno Zalgiris in the Europa League playoff first leg. The victory marked the Istanbul club's sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and they have kept a clean sheet in each of their first six matches this term. Dusan Vlahovic made his debut for the team after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Europa League — Playoff (first legs)

• Kairat Almaty – Anderlecht 0:3
• Mjällby – Red Bull Salzburg 0:1
• Jagiellonia – Iberia 1999 4:0
• Beşiktaş – Kauno Zalgiris 3:0
• Universitatea Craiova – Ararat-Armenia 1:1
• OFI Crete – CSKA Sofia 3:0
• Trabzonspor – Ferencvaros 0:1
• Lech Poznan – Thun 7:0
• Egnatia – Lillestrom 0:0
• Red Star Belgrade – Viktoria Plzen 3:0
• Sint-Truiden – Omonia 1:0
• Benfica – Aarhus 3:1

With the first legs concluded, several ties head to decisive second matches where teams like Viktoria Plzen and Trabzonspor will need strong away performances to overturn deficits. Red Star, meanwhile, will travel to the Czech Republic with a comfortable margin but will look to manage the tie carefully to secure a place in the Europa League group stage.

Photo: press material from the event