The first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League second qualifying round between Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar) and Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) will take place on July 22 at the Europa Point Stadium. Lincoln Red Imps vs. Crvena Zvezda: prediction, betting odds, and statistics.
Lincoln Red Imps
In the first round, the club faced Vikingur from the Faroe Islands and encountered no significant issues, winning both matches (3-2 and 1-0). As a result, the team achieved two consecutive victories in the Champions League for the first time in its history. Notably, this is the fifth time the club has reached the second qualifying round, but they have never progressed further.
- No more than three goals have been scored in regular time in the team's last six home matches in the Champions League.
- The club has not conceded more than two goals in 90 minutes in their last 13 home fixtures in this European competition.
- Gibraltar's side has scored in regular time in 8 of their last 10 home games in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Lincoln Red Imps (4-3-3)
Nauset Santana – Mariano Maroto, Rafael Benavides, Oliva Ruthens, Ethan Britto – Antonio Montero, Bernardo Lopes, Graeme Torrilla – Enrique Bernal, Tjay De Barr, Victor Morales.
Crvena Zvezda
The team won the Serbian championship last season and begins its current Champions League journey from the second qualifying round. Crvena Zvezda is participating in this European competition for the eighth consecutive time and competed in the main tournament phase in the last two editions. Last season, the Serbian side collected six points from eight matches in the group stage but did not advance to the playoffs. The club's scoring streak in the Champions League stands at six matches.
- The team has lost in regular time in 8 of their last 9 away games in the Champions League.
- The club has scored exactly once in 90 minutes in 6 of their last 8 away matches in this European competition.
- At least three goals have been scored in regular time in 7 of the last 9 away matches of the Serbians in the Champions League.
Predicted lineup for Crvena Zvezda (4-3-3)
Mateus – Sol Yeon U, Milos Veljkovic, Veljko Milosavljevic, Nair Tiknizyan – Jovan Silvic, Aleksandar Katai, Rade Krunic – Milson, Sherif Ndiaye, Mirko Ivanic.
Referee
Damian Kos (Poland)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 27;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 33%.
Match Prediction: Lincoln Red Imps vs. Crvena Zvezda
Gibraltar's side confidently overcame the Faroese Vikingur in the first round and intends to challenge Crvena Zvezda. Lincoln Red Imps have never suffered a heavy defeat at home in the Champions League and often display effective attacking performances. In their last ten matches in this European competition, the team failed to score in only two instances, while in three matches during this stretch, they scored at least twice.
The Serbians are unlikely to fail to break through Gibraltar's defense at least once: Crvena Zvezda is considered the clear favorite in this matchup and regularly scores in the Champions League, even away from home. In their last ten away matches in this tournament, the club failed to score only twice – against Young Boys and Inter Milan. Meanwhile, in 8 of their last 9 away games in the Champions League, the team conceded, allowing at least two goals each time.
I expect both opponents to perform well offensively, so my prediction: Both teams to score – yes
