The second leg of the 2025/26 Champions League third qualifying round between Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) and Lech (Poland) will take place on August 12 at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade. The first leg ended 3-1 in favor of Crvena Zvezda. Crvena Zvezda vs. Lech: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Crvena Zvezda
Vladan Milojević's side secured a 3-1 away victory in the first match. As a result, Crvena Zvezda achieved their fourth consecutive win in the Champions League. Moreover, the club extended their scoring streak in this European competition to nine matches. However, in 9 of the last 11 Champions League games, the team failed to keep a clean sheet. Now, to progress to the next round, the Serbians need to avoid losing by more than one goal in regular time. Notably, Crvena Zvezda participated in the main stage of the Champions League in the last two seasons.
- The team has not won in regular time in 7 of their last 10 home Champions League matches (2 draws, 5 losses).
- The club's players scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 8 of their last 10 home games in this European competition.
- The Serbians conceded at least two goals in regular time in 7 of their last 10 home Champions League matches.
Predicted lineup for Crvena Zvezda (4-4-2)
Mateus – Sol Yeon U, Miloš Veljković, Rodrigo, Nair Tiknizyan – Mirko Ivanić, Felicio Milson, Rade Krunić, Timi Elsnik – Bruno Duarte, Sheriff Ndiaye.
Lech
In the first match, the club lost at home, marking their second defeat in the last eight European competition matches (with 6 wins in the remaining games). Furthermore, Lech failed to keep a clean sheet for the eighth time in nine previous European matches. Meanwhile, the team extended their scoring streak in European club tournaments to 12 matches. To advance to the next round, the Polish side must win by at least three goals in 90 minutes. If the club wins by a two-goal margin, extra time will be played. It is worth noting that Lech has never advanced beyond the third qualifying round in the Champions League.
- The team has not lost in regular time in 7 of their last 8 away European matches (4 wins, 3 draws).
- At least three goals were scored in 90 minutes in 4 of the club's last 5 away European matches.
- The Polish side scored in regular time in 9 of their last 10 away matches in European club tournaments.
Predicted lineup for Lech (4-3-3)
Bartosz Mrozek – Antonio Milić, Joel Pereira, João Bragança Moutinho, Mateusz Skrzypczak – Antoni Kozubal, Leo Bengtsson, Filip Jagiełło – Ali Gholizadeh, Mikael Ishak, Luis Palma.
Midfielder Radosław Murawski and forward Patrik Walemark are unavailable due to injuries.
Referee
François Letexier (France)
Matches – 12 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 60;
Average yellow cards per match – 5;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 42%.
Crvena Zvezda vs. Lech: Match Prediction
In the first encounter, the teams played open football, resulting in four goals. I expect both opponents to be active in attack in the return leg. Moreover, Crvena Zvezda's home statistics in the Champions League suggest this: the club has scored in 14 consecutive matches in this European competition, yet failed to keep a clean sheet in 9 of their last 10 home games in the Champions League.
Lech is also not accustomed to sitting back: in their last 10 away European matches, the team has always scored. Additionally, in four of those occasions, the club's players scored at least twice. Meanwhile, the Polish side rarely avoids defensive errors: in 14 of their last 17 away European matches, Lech has failed to keep a clean sheet.
I anticipate effective attacking play from both opponents, so my prediction: Both teams to score – yes
* Each team's starting lineup is based on their previous match in this tournament.
