Historic Red Star Hosts Celtic in Europa League Opener

Match Overview: Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic

Venue: Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade
Date: Wednesday, September 24
Time: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Available on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, with live updates on the BBC Sport website & app.

A Glimpse into the Past

The date was May 29, 1991, and the scene was set at Bari’s Stadio San Nicola along Italy’s picturesque southern Adriatic coastline. On that day, the renowned Yugoslav club, Crvena Zvezda, made history. Led by their captain and goalkeeper Steven Stojanovic, the team celebrated their European Cup triumph after a hard-fought victory against a well-resourced Marseille squad.

Despite the high expectations, the final lacked excitement, ending in a goalless draw before Red Star clinched the title in a penalty shootout. As player Sinisa Mihajlovic later reflected, the final was arguably one of the dullest in European Cup history. Yet, Red Star’s determination during that campaign was undoubted, having mastered the art of penalty shootouts from a season of drawn league matches.

The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of Red Star

For two decades from 1995, Red Star had limited opportunities in European competitions due to sanctions on Yugoslav teams. However, recent years have seen them reclaim some stature, participating in the Champions League four times in the last seven seasons. Unfortunately, their aspirations for the current season were cut short in the playoffs by underdog Pafos from Cyprus.

Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic is now bracing for a challenging encounter at the imposing Rajko Mitic Stadium. The club’s recent transfer activity, including selling key players for over £40 million, created a significant impact as the team geared up for this clash. Among the notable departures were promising youngsters Velijko Milosavlejvic and Andrija Maksimovic.

Key Players to Watch

Celtic will need to keep a close eye on Aleksandar Katai, who has netted an impressive 12 goals in just 13 matches this season, following a notable 19-goal haul last year that contributed to Red Star’s eighth consecutive Serbian title.

In their recent victory over rivals Partizan in the ‘Eternal Derby’, Katai was part of a formidable attacking quartet, alongside rising star Vasilije Kostov, Montenegro international Mirko Ivanic, and seasoned striker Marko Arnautovic. The latter’s emotional return to the club serves as a poignant story, as he honored a promise made to his late coach, Sinisa Mihajlovic, before his passing in 2022.

A Testing Challenge for Celtic

As Celtic embarks on their Europa League journey, they face a daunting task given their inconsistent form in away matches during European competitions. Red Star, with only five league losses in the past five years, poses a serious threat. Both teams are eager to make their mark on the European stage once again, adding extra significance to this opening match in the group stages.