Watch Crvena Zvezda vs LOSC Lille Live: Complete UEFA Europa League Play-off Guide

Getting a clear view of the UEFA Europa League can sometimes feel like a full-time job, especially with rights jumping around and time zones tripping you up. This guide is built to cut through that noise. Whether you’re a Red Star die-hard, a Lille tactical nut, or just a traveler trying to catch the game live with the help of a hotel Wi-Fi, this guide has got you covered. From the official broadcasters around the world such as Paramount+, DAZN, and TNT Sports to the gritty details of bypassing geo-blocks, consider this your tactical roadmap for the 2026 play-off round.

The anticipation for the clash between Crvena Zvezda vs LOSC Lille is reaching a fever pitch as the first leg kicks off at the Decathlon Arena in France on February 19, followed by the high-intensity return leg at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade on February 26. For LOSC Lille, this represents a chance to find redemption after a rocky domestic stretch, while Crvena Zvezda looks to leverage their formidable “Marakana” atmosphere to secure a spot in the Round of 16.

Whether you are navigating the local Serbian RTS feeds or trying to find the English-language commentary on CBS Sports, we’ve verified the schedules to ensure you don’t miss a single second. As the floodlights turn on in Villeneuve-d’Ascq and Belgrade, make sure your connection is as ready as the players on the pitch for this historic knockout encounter.

Match Schedule and Venues

The beauty of the knockout play-offs is the shift in atmosphere. We’re starting in the sleek, modern suburbs of Northern France and ending in one of the most daunting “football cathedrals” on the planet. Lille’s home ground is all about high-tech comfort and precision, but the return trip to Belgrade is a different beast entirely—a place where the noise alone can win games. Pay close attention to the kickoff times, as the second leg in Serbia starts earlier than the first leg in France.

League Standings and Domestic Form

You can’t look at European nights in a vacuum; you have to see what these teams are doing on their own turf. Crvena zvezda is essentially playing a different sport in the Serbian league right now, steamrolling opponents and sitting comfortably at the top. Lille, on the other hand, is in the middle of a dogfight. They’ve had a rough patch in Ligue 1 lately, and while their technical ceiling is high, their confidence might be a little shaky heading into this tie.

Broadcaster Breakdown for Global Viewers

If you’re watching from the US, Paramount+ is your primary destination—it is the exclusive home for English coverage in the States. They don’t just show the game; they offer the “Golazo Show,” which is a live, whip-around program that jumps between all the Europa League matches as goals happen, making it perfect if you want to keep an eye on other play-off scores simultaneously. For Spanish speakers, the rights are held by TUDN and Univision, with streaming available on ViX. If you have a FuboTV or DirecTV Stream subscription, you can usually access these Spanish channels there as well.

In Canada, the landscape is purely digital. DAZN has secured the exclusive rights to all UEFA club competitions until 2027. This means you won’t find the game on traditional cable channels like TSN or Sportsnet. You’ll need the DAZN app, which is available on most smart TVs and consoles, offering both live and on-demand replays. For those in the UK, TNT Sports remains the king of European football. They typically spread the matches across their various numbered channels (TNT Sports 1 through 10), so you’ll want to check the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) on match day. Their streaming home is the discovery+ app, which requires a monthly “Premium” subscription that also includes every midweek Premier League game.

Back in the home territories, the coverage is even more intense. French fans will find the match on Canal+, which provides world-class tactical analysis and pre-match documentaries. Canal+ also integrates the coverage into their “Canal Football Club” studio show for a deep dive into Lille’s chances. Don’t forget to check W9, as they often pick up the rights for one “top pick” French game per round to broadcast for free. In Serbia, Arena Sport is the undisputed home of the Europa League, offering multiple feeds and expert commentary. However, the national broadcaster RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) typically carries the Crvena zvezda matches on RTS 1, ensuring that the entire country can tune in for free to support the Red-and-Whites without needing a cable package.

Choosing the Right VPN for 2026

For a high-stakes game where every second of low latency counts, you need a provider that prioritizes speed and unblocking capabilities. NordVPN remains the top recommendation for sports fans because of its specialized SmartPlay technology. This is a built-in feature that automatically combines VPN security with Smart DNS, allowing the app to bypass the sophisticated anti-VPN filters used by platforms like DAZN and Paramount+ without you having to mess with any settings. If you’re in a country with strict internet filtering, you should look for their obfuscated servers in the specialty list; these hide the fact that you’re even using a VPN, making your traffic look like regular web browsing to avoid being flagged.

ExpressVPN is the gold standard if you’re planning to watch on a device that doesn’t natively support VPN apps, like an older Smart TV or a gaming console. Their MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) service allows you to register your IP address on their website and change your TV’s DNS settings to point to their servers. While this doesn’t offer the full encryption of a VPN, it’s significantly faster and perfectly suited for 4K streaming. If you’re watching with a large group of friends on multiple devices, Surfshark is an excellent choice because it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, and its NoBorders mode is specifically designed to work in restrictive network environments like hotels or corporate Wi-Fi.

Pro Troubleshooting Tips

Even the best VPNs can sometimes hit a snag if a streaming service blacklists a specific server’s IP address. If your app still won’t load the game, the first and easiest fix is to switch servers within the same country. Most premium VPNs have thousands of servers in major hubs like the US or UK; jumping from a New York server to one in Chicago often bypasses a block instantly.

Another common culprit is “location leaking” through your browser’s cache. Streaming sites often store small files (cookies) that remember your last “real” location. If the stream fails, close your browser, clear your cache and cookies, and then try again in an incognito or private window. Finally, if you’re experiencing “stuttering” or buffering, check your VPN protocol settings. In 2026, switching to a modern protocol like NordLynx or Lightway will usually give you a significant speed boost over older standards like OpenVPN, ensuring you don’t see a “loading” circle right as someone’s about to take a penalty.

Players to Watch and Tactical Outlook

This tie is going to be a battle of wills. For Red Star, keep your eyes on Mirko Ivanić; he’s the guy that makes them tick in the final third. And of course, Marko Arnautović is still a handful for any defender when he’s in the mood. Lille’s danger man is undoubtedly Jonathan David. He’s incredibly clinical on the break, which is exactly how Lille will try to play in that hostile Belgrade atmosphere. It’s going to be a fascinating mix of Red Star’s high-energy press versus Lille’s more patient, technical approach.

FAQs

Does the away goals rule still exist?

Nope, that’s a thing of the past. If it’s a tie after 180 minutes, we go straight to extra time and penalties, regardless of who scored where.

Can I use a free VPN?

You can try, but they’re usually a nightmare for live sports. They’re slow, they buffer, and most streaming apps have already blacklisted their IP addresses.

Is there any way to watch for free?

If you’re in Serbia, RTS is your best bet. In France, W9 is the one to check for free-to-air coverage.

What’s the kickoff time for the US?

The first leg is at 3:00 PM ET, but that second leg in Belgrade is an earlier one—set your alarm for 12:45 PM ET.

How do I get tickets for the Marakana?

Go through Red Star’s official site, but be fast. European nights in Belgrade are always a sell-out. If you’re a Lille fan, make sure you buy through the official LOSC away portal to stay in the safe zone.

Final Thoughts and Analysis

This is one of those ties where the “better” team on paper might not have the easier time. Lille has the Ligue 1 pedigree and deep pockets, but their current form is a worry. Red Star is walking into this with nothing to lose and 50,000 fans acting as their twelfth man in the second leg. If Lille doesn’t walk away from the first leg with a two-goal cushion, that trip to the Marakana is going to be incredibly long. I’m expecting a lot of grit, a few yellow cards, and a result that goes right down to the wire in the final twenty minutes of the second leg.

The momentum heading into this clash feels starkly polarized. Lille enters this play-off in the midst of a frustrating domestic winter, having struggled to find the back of the net in recent Ligue 1 stalemates against Metz and Brest. While Olivier Giroud remains a target-man threat, the French side’s inability to kill off games has left them vulnerable. In contrast, Crvena Zvezda is riding a wave of confidence; Vladan Milojević has his squad firing on all cylinders, recently dismantling domestic opponents and showing incredible defensive discipline in the Europa League league phase, where they secured four 1-0 victories.

Crucially, Red Star already proved they could topple this specific opponent with a 1-0 victory back in November. That psychological edge, combined with the presence of battle-hardened veterans like Marko Arnautović and Aleksandar Katai, makes them a nightmare draw for a struggling Lille. If the Serbians can frustrate the hosts at the Decathlon Arena and keep the scoreline thin, the atmospheric pressure of Belgrade will be a massive hurdle. Lille’s tactical technicality may be superior, but in the knockout stages, pure grit often trumps pedigree, and Red Star has that in spades.