UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
FK Crvena Zvezda 5 - 1 FT Lincoln Red Imps FC
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Brighton
3-0
Arsenal
⚡ Intensity
37
⚖️ Balance
17
🏆 Stakes
70
🎲 Upset
80
Brighton dismantle league leaders Arsenal.
Futmetrix Verdict
62
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Newcastle
2-1
Hull City
⚡ Intensity
61
⚖️ Balance
41
🏆 Stakes
40
🎲 Upset
0
Early blitz secures Newcastle home victory
Futmetrix Verdict
81
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Tottenham
2-3
Aston Villa
⚡ Intensity
90
⚖️ Balance
43
🏆 Stakes
15
🎲 Upset
60
Aston Villa stun Spurs in thriller
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
8' A. Katai (T. Elsnik)
16' M. Ivanic (A. Katai)
37' Bruno Duarte (A. Katai)
44' Milson
HT
46' ↓ G. Torrilla ↑Mandi
46' ↓ Juanje ↑N. Pozo
T. De Barr (Nano) 53'
63' Miloš Veljković
↓ A. Katai ↑C. Ndiaye 64'
64' ↓ R. Munoz ↑I. Ayew
Mandi 69'
↓ Milson ↑N. Radonjic 73'
↓ Bruno Duarte ↑M. Arnautovic 73'
75' C. Ndiaye (M. Ivanic)
81' ↓ E. Britto ↑J. Toscano
81' ↓ T. De Barr ↑L. Chipolina
↓ T. Elsnik ↑V. Lucic 82'
↓ M. Ivanic ↑V. Kostov 82'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
FK Crvena Zvezda
Midfielders
Nauzet García
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Munoz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bernardo Lopes
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Christian Rutjens
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ethan Britto
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Graeme Torrilla
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Juanje
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Villacanas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. De Barr
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Toni García
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
J. Hankins
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Acal
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Toscano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
N. Pozo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Ayew
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mandi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. Carrington
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Benitez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Clinton
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Joe
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Chipolina
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Peacock
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lincoln Red Imps FC
Midfielders
Matheus
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Veljko Milosavljević
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Miloš Veljković
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Rodrigão
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nair Tiknizyan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Rade Krunić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Timi Max Elšnik
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Felício Milson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandar Katai
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mirko Ivanić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bruno Duarte
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Omri Glazer
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ivan Guteša
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jovan Šljivić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pape Cherif Ndiaye
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vasilije Kostov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Stefan Leković
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vladimir Lučić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Stojkovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nemanja Radonjić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Prutsev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Annan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Marko Arnautović
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/2025 | Lincoln Red Imps FC | 0 - 1 | FK Crvena Zvezda | UEFA Champions League | Europa point stadium |
07/22/2025
FK Crvena Zvezda Win
Lincoln Red Imps FC Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
FK Crvena Zvezda
Lincoln Red Imps FC
FK Crvena Zvezda
Lincoln Red Imps FC
Crvena Zvezda's Five-Goal Statement Ends Red Imps' European Dream
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 38/100. This wasn't a football match—it was a masterclass in European dominance, as FK Crvena Zvezda dismantled Lincoln Red Imps FC with surgical precision to announce their Champions League credentials.
Early Onslaught Sets the Tone
From the opening whistle at Stadion Rajko Mit, A. Katai orchestrated a symphony of attacking football that left the visitors shell-shocked. By the eighth minute, Katai had already broken the deadlock, finishing a slick move to give the Serbian side an early advantage. The intensity never relented. Within eight minutes, M. Ivanic doubled the lead after Katai's assist, and the Red Imps were already drowning. Katai's influence was inescapable—three assists by halftime, pulling strings like a maestro conducting an orchestra of strikers.
A Blitz Before the Break
Bruno Duarte made it 3-0 in the 37th minute, again courtesy of Katai's vision, before Milson added a fourth just before halftime. The stakes had shifted entirely—this was no longer a contest, but a coronation. Lincoln's sole moment of resistance came in the 53rd minute when T. De Barr pulled one back, briefly igniting hope that this might become a proper match. It didn't. C. Ndiaye sealed the rout in the 75th minute, with Ivanic providing the assist as Crvena Zvezda's dominance was absolute.
The Turning Point: Katai's Early Brilliance
The match was decided in the opening quarter-hour. Katai's early goal set the psychological tone, and his three first-half assists established a balance so tilted toward the hosts that Lincoln never recovered. The Red Imps entered this tie as underdogs, but even their most pessimistic supporters couldn't have predicted this level of capitulation. Crvena Zvezda's movement, positioning, and clinical finishing turned Stadion Rajko Mit into a shooting gallery.
Key Questions
What caused the six-goal thriller?
Katai's early brilliance and three assists overwhelmed Lincoln's defence. Crvena Zvezda's ruthless finishing and tactical dominance made this a one-sided affair from minute eight onwards.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Belgrade Fortress Awaits Gibraltar’s Underdogs
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. Crvena Zvezda look to secure their path toward the Champions League elite by dismantling a resilient Lincoln Red Imps side in this qualifying tie.
The Setup
On July 29, 2025, the historic Stadion Rajko Mit becomes the stage for a clash where European dreams are forged. In this 2nd Qualifying Round, FK Crvena Zvezda enter as heavy favourites, yet the Balance of this tie remains the central narrative as the visitors aim to keep the scoreline respectable. While the Stars power might be concentrated in the home dugout, the tactical Form shown in these early summer qualifiers often dictates who survives the grind of the road to the league stage. For Lincoln Red Imps FC, the Stakes involve more than just a result; it is about proving they can compete on the continent's biggest stage.
Key Battle
The contest will be defined by the visitors' ability to withstand relentless technical pressure. The home side's attacking spearhead, C. Ndiaye, will look to exploit any lapses in concentration within the Lincoln back line. Providing the platform from deep, Veljko Milosavljević will be tasked with ensuring the Serbian giants maintain their composure and recycle possession quickly to tire out the Gibraltarian low block.
Our Prediction
Crvena Zvezda's superior technical quality and the daunting atmosphere of their home ground should prove too much for the visitors. Expect the Serbian champions to dominate territory from the opening whistle, using wide rotations to stretch the Lincoln defence. While the visitors may hold out initially, the pressure will eventually tell. A comfortable home victory is the likely outcome. 3-0.