Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Lincoln Red Imps
Match Time & Date:
22 July 2025
17:00
Prediction: 0-2
Crvena zvezda
Lincoln Red Imps will try to claim a major scalp when they take on famous Serbian side Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League second qualifying round, first leg. Lincoln did well to shock Vikingur in round 1, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against Vladan Milojevic’s troops. Bearing any fresh injury worries, head coach Juan Bezares is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated Vikingur 1-0 in the second leg.
The Red and Whites, on the other hand, are boosted by Marko Arnautovic’s arrival. The former Inter striker, though, will not be available for the first leg. In Arnautovic’s absence, a man to watch in the away team will be experienced forward Aleksandar Katai, who is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. Serbian rising star Andrija Maksimovic is no longer part of the team after signing a 14-million-deal with Bundesliga outfit Leipzig. Anyhow, away win should be considered as Crvena Zvezda are a more experienced side than Lincoln Red Imps.
Highlighted Team (Crvena Zvezda):
Crvena Zvezda are the most famous club in Balkans. The Crveno-beli have 19 Yugoslav First League titles and have won eight domestic trophies since the breakup of Yugoslavia. Crvena Zvezda won their last league title in the 2015/2016 season, with the team finishing the campaign no less than 28 points clear of Partizan.
Speaking of Partizan, the Crno-beli are considered Crvena Zvezda’s bitterest rivals and the two teams meet in the “Eternal derby” (Veciti derbi). The capital club did well to win the European Cup title in 1991, with the team beating Olympique Marseile on penalties in the title game. That is considered the club’s biggest success, but it has to be noted that the Serbian club won the International Cup later in 1991. Crvena Zvezda outclassed Colo Colo of Chile (3-0) at National Stadium in Tokyo.
The likes of Dejan Savicevic, Vladimir Jugovic, Dragan Stojkovic, Dragoslav Sekularac, Rajko Mitic, Dusan Savic, Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic are some of the famous footballers who played for Crvena Zvezda in the past.
FC Copenhagen
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Hamrun
Dynamo Kyiv 
Plzen 
Servette
RFS
Malmo
Rangers
Panathinaikos
Brann
Salzburg
