Preview: Serbia vs. Russia - prediction, team news, lineups

Serbia host Russia in the UEFA Nations League on Wednesday night hoping to move off the bottom of League B Group 3 and avoid relegation.

Russia, meanwhile, are winless in their last five international matches but could secure top spot in the group with a win away from home.

Match preview

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Serbia's hopes of survival in their Nations League group are looking slim following a 1-1 draw in Hungary on Sunday.

Marseille winger Nemanja Radonjic opened the scoring for the visitors in the 17th minute, however Hungary's Zsolt Kalmar equalised six minutes before half time.

Serbia could not find a winner in the second half, which now means that Ljubisa Tumbakovic 's side need to beat Russia on Wednesday and hope that there is a three-goal swing between their match and the other group game involving Hungary and Turkey, with Serbia hoping for a home victory in that fixture.

The Eagles have struggled in this year's Nations League, failing to win any of their five group matches, scoring only four goals in the process.

After recently losing to Scotland on penalties and failing to qualify for Euro 2020, Serbia will be hoping to end this year on a high with a victory over a Russia side which is out of form.

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Russia tasted their first defeat in League B Group 3 on Sunday night after an entertaining 3-2 away loss to Turkey.

Valencia winger Denis Cheryshev opened the scoring 10 minutes into the match, however the dismissal of defender Andrei Semyonov seemed to have changed the game as Turkey went on to score three times, gaining a two-goal cushion.

Russia managed to pull a goal back before the hour mark, however they were unable to snatch a third, which leaves them level with Hungary on eight points.

Despite sitting top of the group and with one more victory enough to secure promotion, Stanislav Cherchesov 's side are winless from their last three Nations League encounters and have failed to win any of their previous five internationals in all competitions.

The home side defeated Wednesday's opponents 3-1 in September and will be hoping for a repeat result if they are to top the group and end their poor run of form.

Serbia Nations League form: LDLDD

Serbia form (all competitions): DWLDLD

Russia Nations League form: WWDDL

Russia form (all competitions): WLDDDL

Team News

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Serbian goalkeepers Marko Dmitrovic and Predrag Rajkovic have been rotated in recent matches with the former starting on Sunday, which could mean Rajkovic is given a start on Wednesday.

Captain Aleksandar Kolarov, who did not play against Hungary on Sunday, will be monitored accordingly after recently returning from a muscle injury, although his club Inter Milan would prefer that the 35-year-old does not feature.

Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to be recalled to the starting XI, which could see Sunday's goalscorer Nemanja Radonjic dropped to the bench.

Russia defender Vyacheslav Karavaev is likely to come in to the starting lineup and replace the suspended Andrei Semyonov.

Goalkeeper Anton Shunin remains sidelined for the visitors, which means Guilherme is set to keep his starting spot in goal.

Striker Artem Dzyuba is likely to remain out of the first-team reckoning, which could mean that Fedor Chalov, who is yet to score for the national team, is given another start up front.

Serbia possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Milenkovic, Spajic, S.Mitrovic; Lazovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Mladenovic; Tadic; Jovic, A.Mitrovic

Russia possible starting lineup:

Guilherme; Karavayev, Dzhikiya, Kudryashov, Zhirkov; Zobnin, Ozdoev; Ionov, An.Miranchuk, Cheryshev; Chalov

We say: Serbia 1-1 Russia

Russia are unbeaten against Serbia in their five encounters and with promotion in their sights they will believe that they have what it takes to get a positive result on Wednesday. However, with Serbia fighting for survival, the home side could make it difficult for the group leaders.

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