Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
Lech Poznan and Red Star Belgrade will lock horns on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round, with both sides aiming to move a step closer to the group stage.
The Polish side come into this tie full of confidence, having comfortably dispatched Breidablik in the second round. Red Star, meanwhile, breezed past Lincoln Red Imps with a commanding aggregate win, showcasing their experience and firepower at this level.
Lech Poznan
Lech Poznan return to Champions League qualifying action for the second time in three years, buoyed by a narrow Ekstraklasa title win last season. Under Niels Frederiksen, they edged out Rakow Czestochowa by a single point, amassing 22 wins across the 34-game campaign to claim their ninth Polish league crown.
Their qualification campaign got off to a flying start with an emphatic 7-1 demolition of Breidablik in the home leg, followed by a professional 1-0 win away in Iceland, setting up a stern third-round test against Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.
Lech maintained momentum over the weekend by beating Gornik Zabrze 3-1 in the league, with goals from Leo Bengtsson and Mikael Ishak leading the charge. The result extended their strong home form in European competition, having won five of their last six continental fixtures in Poznan.
Team News
In terms of personnel, Frederiksen will be without Radosław Murawski, Bartłomiej Baranski, Daniel Hakans, and Patrik Walemark due to injuries, while Afonso Sousa remains a doubt.
However, Ali Gholizadeh and Luis Palma are both pushing for starts after coming off the bench on Saturday.
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade enter the Champions League third qualifying round brimming with confidence, having secured their eighth straight Serbian SuperLiga title in dominant fashion. Vladan Milojevic’s side amassed a remarkable 100 points last season, suffering just one defeat in 37 league games to underline their domestic superiority.
Now aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for a third consecutive year, Red Star began their European journey in style, brushing aside Lincoln Red Imps 6-1 on aggregate. A 1-0 away win in Gibraltar set the tone, before a scintillating first-half display in the return leg — featuring goals from Aleksandar Katai, Mirko Ivanić, Bruno Duarte, and Milson — saw them race into a 4-0 lead. Cherif Ndiaye added a fifth after the break to cap a commanding performance.
That result maintained their perfect start to the season, with four wins from four competitive matches and an impressive +15 goal difference (17 scored, 2 conceded).
Team News
Duarte, who has scored in each of those games, will spearhead the attack again, while summer arrival Marko Arnautovic — recently signed from Inter Milan — is expected to remain on the bench as he continues to build fitness. Given their current form, Red Star will feel well-equipped to take the fight to Lech in Poland.
Conclusion
Both Lech Poznan and Red Star Belgrade cruised through the previous round, but this third-round clash promises to be far more evenly contested. With a place in the Champions League playoff round at stake, caution is likely to prevail in the first leg.
Lech have looked strong at home, scoring freely and carrying momentum from their domestic and European outings, while Red Star arrive in top form, unbeaten and prolific across all competitions this season.
Given both sides’ attacking talent and current rhythm, a score draw feels like a realistic outcome in what should be a tightly balanced opener in Poznan.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: Luckster
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