A clear winner already in the first leg?
With Red Star Belgrade among others, the first big names are now entering the competition for the second qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. The Serbian club, which won this competition once before in 1991, now faces the Red Imps from Gibraltar, which ultimately must be considered an absolute must-win game. This makes it all the more exciting to see where the best value bet can be found for Lincoln Red Imps vs. Red Star Belgrade.
The small club from Gibraltar is a regular fixture in the European qualifying rounds, but has never made it past the second round of Champions League qualifying before. Even now, it would be a huge sensation if Lincoln Red Imps were to advance against Red Star Belgrade, especially considering that the football minnows knocked Vikingur from the Faroe Islands out of the competition in the first qualifying round with a 4-2 aggregate score.
Ultimately, however, the only question is whether the Serbs will seal the deal in the first leg or whether the football minnows can at least put up a fight at their home ground, Europa Point Stadium. However, considering that Crveno-beli recorded a resounding 4-0 victory over Javor in their league opener in Serbia and are in impressive early form, we believe the hosts from Gibraltar have only a slim chance of a close match.
Lincoln Red Imps – Statistics & current form
As Gibraltar champions, Lincoln Red Imps traditionally started their European campaign in the first qualifying round, where they prevailed against Faroese champions Vikingur in both legs. After a 3-2 away win in the first leg, the Imps needed only a late 1-0 home win in the second leg, with Tjay De Barr scoring the goal in stoppage time to make the aggregate score 4-2.
While the domestic league in Gibraltar is still on hold, the Red Imps have made a successful return from the break. Although the country’s flagship club has already qualified for the main round of the Conference League once before, the second qualifying round of the Champions League has always proved an insurmountable hurdle. The football minnows have never made it to the third qualifying round before.
Lincoln Red Imps have shocked a big name before
Celtic Glasgow, among others, learned in 2016 that the Red Imps should not be taken completely lightly. The Scots lost the first leg in Gibraltar 0-1 before turning the tie around with a 3-0 home win in the second leg. The odds for another surprise victory for the team led by Spanish coach Juan José Bezares are 19.00 in the Betano app for Lincoln Red Imps against Red Star Belgrade, which clearly shows the difference in class.
The quality of the squad, which consists of part of the Gibraltar national team and just under a dozen Spaniards, is not particularly high. This is also evidenced by a combined total market value of less than two million euros – the level of a mediocre German fourth division club. And yet, thanks to the clear distribution of roles, the Red Imps have nothing to lose at their home ground, Europa Point Stadium, which makes the team even more dangerous…
Predicted line-up for Lincoln Red Imps:
Santana – Rutjens, Torrilla, Munoz, Toni – Nano, Lopes, Britto – Gómez, Barr, Morales
Red Star Belgrade – Statistics & current form
As Serbian champions, Red Star Belgrade will only enter the Champions League in the second qualifying round, which the Crveno-beli (English: the Red-Whites) have reached several times before. In 1991, the club even won the competition, which was then known as the European Cup, and the Zvezda (meaning “star”) later added the World Cup to its trophy cabinet.
In the recent past, however, the Serbian flagship club has frequently competed at the highest level. For example, it has reached the main round of the Champions League three times in the last eight years (most recently in 2023/24), although there is of course still a long way to go. At least against Lincoln Red Imps, the tip is that Crveno-beli will advance to the third qualifying round with relative ease, under a very good star.
Red Star Belgrade off to a flying start to the season
Despite losing key players and changing coaches in the summer, the transition to the new season has ultimately been a successful one. After 18-year-old offensive gem Andrija Maksimovic left for RB Leipzig in the summer for €14 million, marking the most expensive departure in the club’s history, long-time midfield strategist Guélor Kanga, who did not get a new contract, also left. However, coach Vladan Milojevic, who led Zvezda to the Champions League group stage in 2018 and 2019, had some of his transfer market wishes fulfilled and expressed his satisfaction with his squad.
This is understandable, as the Crveno-beli confirmed at the start of the 2025/26 season in Serbia’s top flight that they still have enormous potential. Javor was beaten 4-0, with last year’s key players such as captain Mirko Ivanic and former AC Milan star Rade Krunic particularly impressive. With Braga newcomer Matheus, Zvezda has also secured a reliable backup between the posts in the Serbian capital, so the future looks bright.
Predicted lineup for Red Star Belgrade:
Matheus – Tiknizyan, Veljkovic, Milosavljevic, Seol – Sljivic, Krunic – Ivanic, Katai, Milson – Ndiaye
Lincoln Red Imps – Red Star Belgrade Head-to-head record
There has never been an international competitive match between these two teams before. Consequently, there is no head-to-head data available that could influence our prediction for Lincoln Red Imps vs. Red Star Belgrade in one way or another.
Lincoln Red Imps – Red Star Belgrade Prediction
The betting odds from the best bookmakers clearly favor Cvreno-beli in the match between Lincoln Red Imps and Red Star Belgrade. Cvreno-beli won the European Cup in 1991 and has appeared several times in the group stages and main rounds of the UEFA Champions League. On paper, this is an absolute must-win game for the Serbs, although the underdogs from Gibraltar put in some impressive performances in their two victories over Vikingur (Faroe Islands).
Nevertheless, there is a clear difference in class between the two teams, which should also be reflected on the scoreboard. Accordingly, the prediction for Lincoln Red Imps vs. Red Star Belgrade is that the Crveno-beli will secure an unchallenged away win with at least a two-goal difference.