Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League Qualifying match.
The first leg in Poznań ended in a 3:1 win for the Serbian champions, leaving them a step away from the play-off round, where Dynamo Kyiv or Pafos await.
Crvena Zvezda
Crvena Zvezda have won all three of their qualifiers so far, scoring nine goals in the process. A brace from Rade Krunić and a Bruno Duarte strike in Poland underlined their potency on the counter. At home, they’ve won 13 of their last 14 competitive fixtures, including a 1:0 league win over TSC Bačka Topola, and are unbeaten in 11 matches. They also top the domestic table with three wins from three.
Lech Poznań
The Polish champions Lech began their Ekstraklasa campaign with two wins and a defeat, sitting seventh with a game in hand. The postponement of their clash with Piast gave them extra preparation time. In Europe, they thrashed Breiðablik (8:1 on aggregate), but the loss in the first leg ended a run of eight straight home wins in continental competition. Away from home since last season, Lech have won four of six matches — all by a single-goal margin.
Crvena Zvezda vs Lech Poznań Prediction
Crvena Zvezda are in top form, clinical in attack, and boast an imposing home record. Lech can compete, but overturning a two-goal deficit in Belgrade looks highly unlikely. The hosts are expected to control proceedings and limit risks, which reduces the chances of a high-scoring affair.
