Red Star Belgrade beat Lille 1-0 away in first leg of UEFA Europa League play-offs

LILLE - Serbian football champions Red Star Belgrade defeated French side Lille 1-0 away in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 play-offs on Thursday evening.

One minute into first-half injury time, Franklin Tebo Uchenna netted the winner from close range after a Nair Tiknizyan corner kick.

Marko Arnautovic missed two point-blank chances to extend the Red Star lead but Lille goalkeeper Berke Ozer made crucial saves.

This was the first-ever European victory on French soil for the Belgrade Red-And-Whites, who were supported by around a thousand Red Star fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

It was also Red Star's second win against Lille this season.

The return leg in Belgrade is scheduled for next Thursday.

The winner of the tie will face Aston Villa or Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.

This Sunday, Red Star will host Serbia's Eternal Derby against arch-rivals Partizan in the Serbian Superliga.