FC Pyunik will welcome Red Star Belgrade to Armenia on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League third-qualifying-round tie.
The visitors arrive with a 5-0 lead after their home leg and will be keen to advance to the playoff round with another dominant display.
Match preview
© Reuters
After winning the Armenian Premier League for the 15th time in their history and the first time since 2015 last time around, FC Pyunik entered into the first round of qualifying for the upcoming Champions League campaign.
They began with a first-round tie against CFR Cluj, and, after a goalless draw, the second leg would go the full distance, as Zoran Gajic drew them level at 1-1 in the 89th minute to force a period of extra time.
Gajic would again be their hero late on in the additional time, getting on the scoresheet in the 119th minute to take the tie to a penalty shootout, which Yegishe Melikyan's side prevailed in to book a second-round tie with F91 Dudelange.
After losing 1-0 at home and going behind again in the second leg, the Academy had plenty of work to do away from home, but they were able to reverse the deficit and advance to the third round with a 4-1 win on the night and a 4-2 victory on aggregate.
With their third round going far worse thus far, Pyunik will aim to avoid another heavy defeat on Tuesday, and, while it may be too little and too late top advance further, Melikyan's side will at least hope to exit on a high.
© Reuters
Red Star Belgrade, on the other hand, will hope to add to their already sizeable need with another resounding win to build confidence.
After winning the Serbian SuperLiga for the eighth time since 2007 last time around, Red Star Belgrade only had to enter Champions League qualifying in the third round.
As a result, they headed into a contest against Pyunik with plenty of competitive football under their belt, having won their first four league outings of the season prior to the first leg, scoring 17 goals and only conceding once in the process.
Hoping to give themselves an enviable lead, an Osman Bukari brace and a Kings Kagwa goal had them in a comfortable lead heading into the second half, and Bukari would complete his hat-trick before Stefan Mitrovic added a fifth to all but seal their progression in the second leg.
Having started their latest fight for the domestic title, Red Star Belgrade will be desperate to avoid any possible slip-ups and ensure they advance to the playoff round with plenty of confidence on their side.
- D
- W
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Pyunik's attack should be led by Luka Juricic, who marked his third continental appearance with a brace against F91 Dudelange.
Mikhail Kovalenko has played in every minute of qualifying action so far this season and should again play a key role in defence, with Zoran Gajic also set to keep his place.
Red Star Belgrade enter the game without left-back Milan Rodic, who was shown a second yellow card in the dying embers of last week's first leg.
Osman Bukari will again be a danger man after hitting three of Red Star's five goals in that first victory over Pyunik.
Stefan Mitrovic will hope that his goal off the bench will be enough to warrant a starting berth on Tuesday, while Aleksandar Katai, who has now scored 84 goals and provided 41 assists in 153 appearances for the club, is bound to keep his place on the left flank.
FC Pyunik possible starting lineup:
Yurchenko; Dashyan, Kovalenko, Gajic; Davidyan, Cociuc, Zambrano, Juninho; Harutyunyan; Juricic, Otubanjo
Red Star Belgrade possible starting lineup:
Borjan; Erakovic, Dragovic, Milunovic, Gobeljic; Kanga, Kangwa; Bukari, Ivanic, Katai; Pesic
We say: FC Pyunik 0-3 Red Star Belgrade (Red Star Belgrade win 8-0 on aggregate)
FC Pyunik come in with very little to lose given the large deficit already, but we have seen Red Star Belgrade simply being too strong and punishing their opponents, who will likely overcommit going forward.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
