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For the most passionate fans of Red Star Belgrade, memories of 1991 still shine brightly. That year, the Serbian giants etched their name into European football history by defeating Marseille in the Champions League final on penalties, 5-4. Over three decades later, the “Red Star” find themselves in a very different position, struggling for form and hoping to bounce back after a shock exit in the third qualifying round of this year’s Champions League at the hands of Cypriot side Pafos.
As they prepare for the fiercely anticipated derby against arch-rivals Partizan this weekend, Zvezda trail their city rivals by just one point in the Serbian league table—19 points to Partizan’s 18—but still hold a game in hand. The upcoming European tie represents a crucial chance to regain momentum.
Celtic’s Strong Start to the Scottish Premiership
Celtic Glasgow, meanwhile, have hit the ground running in Scotland. After just five league matches, the Bhoys already sit nine points clear at the top of the Premiership. Their dominance has been highlighted by the early struggles of bitter rivals Rangers, who languish on just four points without a win. A scoreless draw in the Old Firm derby at the end of August was the only stumble in what has otherwise been a commanding start for Brendan Rodgers’ men.
That said, Celtic’s European campaign also began with disappointment. Much like Red Star, they suffered an unexpected defeat in qualification, falling to Kazakh club Kairat. This setback has added weight to their Europa League campaign, where progression is seen as vital to restore European credibility.
Squad Overhauls and Key Players
Red Star have undergone a significant squad overhaul, with nearly 20 players arriving over the summer to offset high-profile departures. Among those who left are Milosavljevic (Bournemouth), Maksimović (RB Leipzig), Lazar Jovanović (VfB Stuttgart), N’Diaye (Samsunspor), and Annan (Saint-Étienne). New arrivals such as Handel (Guimarães) and Tiknizyan (Lokomotiv Moscow) have slotted into the starting XI, while Aleksandar Katai has been in blistering form—scoring 11 goals in just six league matches. However, Rade Krunić will miss the game due to an adductor injury.
Celtic, too, experienced key departures over the summer. Patrick Kühn left the right flank, Adam Idah moved to Swansea, and Greg Taylor departed from the left side of defense. While fan-favorite Kieran Tierney has returned home, he is yet to cement his place in the starting lineup. New signings like Balikwisha (Royal Antwerp), Tounetki (Hammarby), and Nygren (Nordsjaelland) are already making their presence felt—Nygren in particular has scored three goals in the league so far. However, Celtic will be without several players, including Simpson-Pusey (on loan from Manchester City), Inamura, the injured Jota, Yamada, and young Osmand.
Prediction
Crvena Zvezda enter this contest on a worrying run of form, with 11 defeats in their last 15 matches across European competition. Their home crowd will demand a reaction, but confidence remains fragile.
Celtic, on the other hand, haven’t been at their absolute best either but continue to grind out results domestically and have proven resilient in difficult away fixtures. With momentum on their side and a deeper squad despite injuries, they are slight favorites heading into this clash.
Expect a competitive match with Red Star fighting hard on home soil, but Celtic’s clinical edge and superior form should see them edge a narrow victory.
Prediction: Crvena Zvezda 1 – 2 Celtic
