Each with a new manager on the touchline, both sides were taking to the pitch for the first time in over a month, but it was Miguel Angel Ramirez's Malmo who adapted more quickly, with Emmanuel Ekong dragging a shot wide of the target just two minutes in.
However, Crvena zvezda assumed control, and after Aleksandar Katai missed two good chances, they struck on the quarter-hour mark.
Rodrigao released Marko Arnautovic in behind, and the veteran forward delivered a pinpoint low pass across the six-yard line to pick out the arriving Vasilije Kostov, who slid home his second goal in the UEL.
Malmo’s vulnerability perhaps wasn’t surprising, given that was the ninth goal they’d conceded before half-time in the league phase.
Their response was muted, and Red Star only looked like extending their lead before the interval, but Melker Ellborg – preferred in goal to the experienced Robin Olsen – was equal to a dipping, long-range effort from Katai to keep his side’s deficit at one.
The hosts’ already-poor prospects of progression were reflected in a performance that bore no improvement after the restart.
Red Star threatened to pull further clear on several occasions, but Seol Young-woo fired wide from the edge of the box after a corner was only half-cleared, while another set-piece caused chaos as Vladimir Lucic’s flick-on to the back post appeared perfect for Rodrigao, but Colin Rosler stole in at the last second to deny the defender a tap-in.
Timi Max Elsnik also narrowly missed the target as the visitors refused to relent in their attacking efforts, while substitute Bruno Duarte fired wide on the spin.
Ultimately, Red Star’s wasteful nature in front of goal didn’t cost them, as they secured a victory that moves them to within striking distance of the top-eight ahead of the final matchday.
Defeat in this first-ever H2H confirmed Malmo’s elimination with a whimper after a fourth successive UEL loss, and remain on just one point from seven matches so far.