Red Star Belgrade and Celtic face off in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) looking to move on from the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle of Champions League qualifying.
Match News and Current Form
Red Star Belgrade responded to that surprise failure at the hands of Pafos (L 3-2 on aggregate) by winning their next three league games while scoring 14 goals. They are now back in the UEL for the first time since 2022/23, when both of their two wins (L4) came at home, and as the Serbian giants have lost just two of their last 13 UEL fixtures here (W8, D3), they should approach this fixture with high hopes of making a strong start buoyed by a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Partizan at the weekend.
Like their hosts, Celtic are unbeaten since they were unexpectedly beaten on penalties by Kairat Almaty in Champions League qualifying (W2, D1), although rather than blowing teams away, that run has been built on a solid defence that’s conceded just once across their last six fixtures in all competitions. That bodes well against free-scoring Red Star as the Hoops prepare for their first appearance in this competition since 2021/22, a campaign in which they won just one of their three away games (L2).
Head-to-Head History
Celtic are unbeaten in two previous H2Hs back in 1968/69 (W1, D1), and while they boast a decent record against Serbian clubs (W3, D1, L2), none of those wins came away from home (D1, L2). Red Star have an even record across 15 previous meetings with Scottish clubs (W5, D5, L5).
Win ProbabilityOpta by StatsPerform
Hot Stats and Streaks
Red Star have conceded between the 60th and 75th minute in each of their last three games.
Each of Red Star’s last seven European home games saw both teams score.
None of Celtic’s matches this season have featured scoring before the 25th minute.
All of Celtic’s last six UEL group/league phase away games saw both teams score.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Aleksandar Katai has scored five times across Red Star’s last three games, with four of those strikes arriving in the first half and two before the fifth minute. Kelechi Iheanacho has directly contributed to a goal in each of Celtic’s last two fixtures (G1, A1), while three of his last four goals for any club came after the 70th minute.
