Ivanić strikes twice as Crvena Zvezda advance with ease

FK Crvena Zvezda turned the Europa League playoff into a rout against visiting FC Viktoria Plzeň, delivering a dominant display that gave their away opponents no pathway back into the contest. The Serbian champions controlled proceedings from start to finish, building an unassailable lead before the hour mark and closing out the tie with clinical efficiency.

Marko Ivanić opened the scoring in the 37th minute, giving the hosts the breakthrough they had been threatening throughout the opening half. The midfielder struck again six minutes into the second period to double Crvena Zvezda's advantage and effectively end the match as a contest. Aleksandar Katai added a third from the penalty spot in stoppage time, sealing a FK Crvena Zvezda 3-0 FC Viktoria Plzeň victory that left no doubt about which side belonged in the next round.

The shift in momentum after half-time proved decisive. With a one-goal lead, Crvena Zvezda might have invited pressure, but instead they emerged with far greater urgency and control. Ivanić's second goal within minutes of the restart killed Plzeň's hopes of a comeback before they had truly formed, establishing a two-goal cushion that released the home side to play with freedom.

Both teams' approaches reflected the scoreline's trajectory. Crvena Zvezda operated with patience and precision in possession, rarely surrendering the ball cheaply and creating clear chances throughout. Plzeň, by contrast, struggled to build any sustained attacking threat and found themselves chasing shadows for long stretches, particularly once the second goal arrived.

Discipline played a minor role in shaping the match's closing stages. Yellow cards were distributed across both sides, with Crvena Zvezda's Vladan Kostov and Plzeň's Petr Hrošovský, Samuel Dweh and Karel Spáčil all cautioned. The accumulation of cautions reflected rising frustration among the visitors but never threatened to derail Crvena Zvezda's command of the encounter.

The convincing victory sends Crvena Zvezda through to the group stage with real momentum, while Plzeň faces an early exit and the challenge of regrouping for domestic competition. For the Serbian side, this performance answered any questions about their readiness for European football at this level.