CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - LINCOLN RED IMPS VS CRVENA ZVEZDA

Champions League

2025-07-22 - Lincoln Red Imps vs Crvena Zvezda

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Lincoln Red Imps v Crvena Zvezda
Football: UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round First Leg
Tuesday 22nd July 2025 - Kick Off 5pm

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Preview

They are a former European Champion and clearly moved into a position of absolute dominance in Serbian Football after Crvena Zvezda won the title for an eighth year in a row. That also means entry into the Champions League at the Second Qualifying Round and the ambitions of the team will be to return to the Group Stage having played with the elite of European Football last season.

It is a much longer road for Crvena Zvezda compared with twelve months ago when they got the better of Bodo/Glimt in the last Play Off Qualifying Round. This time the challenges will see the Serbian Champions having to win three ties to join some of the biggest names in the Confederation and that all begins in Gibraltar on Tuesday.

One of the biggest reasons it could be difficult for Crvena Zvezda to negotiate multiple Rounds is the fact they had lost 11 away European ties in a row. The side did end that run by beating Young Boys 0-1 in the League Phase of the Champions League last season, but it is clear that travelling away from the passionate home support has been a difficulty for the club.

However, it should also be noted that Crvena Zvezda would have been set as underdogs in the large majority of those fixtures since winning a Qualifying tie at Pyunik in the summer of 2022. That is far from the case on Tuesday in this Second Qualifying Round tie, while Crvena Zvezda got their domestic campaign off to a strong performance last Saturday and so should be mentally ready to perform.

First up for the Serbian Champion is a tie with Lincoln Red Imps who beat Vikingur 4-2 on aggregate in the First Qualifying Round and won both Legs in that tie.

Lincoln Red Imps will not be hosting in their usual Stadium, but this is a club with plenty of recent European Qualifying experience and they are the first club from Gibraltar who have competed in the Group Stage of any European competition. Last season they reached the Conference League Play Off Round before narrowly being beaten by Larne, although moving through the Qualifying Rounds of the Champions League has been much more challenging.

In fact Lincoln Red Imps have not made it past the Second Qualifying Round of the Champions League, although they will take some confidence from winning their last 3 home European ties played. None have been against a team with the same quality level as Crvena Zvezda, but Lincoln Red Imps will point out that they have won their last 4 when hosting in all competitions.

This is the first competitive meeting between these clubs.

Prediction

Most will expect Crvena Zvezda to cruise through to the Third Qualifying Round of the Champions League, but the First Leg may not be as comfortable as the oddsmakers believe.

Lincoln Red Imps will have taken plenty of belief from winning both Legs in the First Qualifying Round, while they have also won 3 home European ties in succession.

However, it may be tough to fully contain the Serbian Champions who have just gotten their domestic campaign underway.

Before winning at Young Boys, Crvena Zvezda had lost 11 away European games in succession, although the majority to much stronger opponents than the one they will be playing on Tuesday.

Focus is important for the away team, but if they are not overlooking Lincoln Red Imps, the expectation is that Crvena Zvezda can win here with a clean sheet.

The Pick :

Lincoln Red Imps 0-2 Crvena Zvezda

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Crvena Zvezda Win to Nil at 1.66 with BetFred