Preview for Red Star Belgrade v Celtic
Celtic hope to salvage something from a European campaign that started in disappointment and acrimony when they visit Red Star Belgrade tomorrow night.
Brendan Rodgers’ side’s target was to compete in the Champions League but saw their hopes extinguished in the qualifying round by Kairat Almaty.
The Glasgow giants failed to score over 210 turgid minutes against the team from Kazakhstan before going out on a penalty shoot-out.
The defeat has had a knock-on effect with supporters protesting against the board for a lack of investment and there appears a huge sense of unease at Celtic Park despite the club sitting joint top of the Scottish Premiership, already nine points ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers, who are in an even bigger mess.
They do get a second crack in the Europa League but it is far from an easy start as they visit Belgrade to take on Red Star.
The hosts’ Rajko Mitic Stadium is regarded as one of the more hostile in Europe and defender Liam Scales is relishing the prospect of playing in a white hot atmosphere.
The Scotland international told the Daily Record:”I’ve never played in Belgrade before but I’ve heard it’s a tough place to go and the atmosphere is quite good, so I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s always good to feel the atmosphere before a game. But once we start playing, that all goes out the window and we’re fully focused on what’s happening on the pitch.”
Celtic are experienced campaigners in Europe and it won’t be the first time the Hoops step into this kind of environment.
“In terms of the best atmospheres, probably Dortmund. Feyenoord was up there as well, that was loud,” added Scales.
“But Dortmund was intense and I do enjoy the noise. We were just away in Armenia with the national team and they have a lot of ultras.
“It’s not a massive stadium, but they were very, very loud as well.
“For me, once the ball’s in play, it doesn’t really matter whether there’s 70,000 or no one there. You’re so focused on what’s happening in the game. It’s all background noise.
“But when you walk out and you feel the atmosphere, like we do at Celtic Park, it’s nice for the first couple of minutes and then the whistle goes.”
Celtic head to Serbia on the back of a 4-0 League Cup win over Partick Thistle but this will be a step up in quality.
Red Star won the Belgrade derby at the weekend, beating Partizan 2-1, and hammered Zeleznicar 7-1 in their last home game. They also failed to make it through to the Champions League, though, losing over two legs to Cypriot side Pafos.
Team News for Red Star Belgrade v Celtic
Defensive midfielder Rade Krunic is out for the hosts.
Celtic may have right-back Anthony Ralston available after he returned to training today. If he is ruled out then Colby Donovan will continue. Auston Trusty is sidelined.
Predicted line-ups for Red Star Belgrade v Celtic
Red Star Belgrade: Matheus; Seol, Lekovic, Veljkovic, Tiknizyan; Kostov, Elsnik, Handel, Ivanic; Katai, Arnautovic
Celtic: Schmeichel; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Balikwisha, Iheanacho, Maeda
How to watch Red Star Belgrade v Celtic: TV and online streams
Red Star Belgrade versus Celtic kicks off at 8pm UK time tomorrow night. You can watch it on TNT Sports 2 and stream it via the discovery+ app.
Stats for Red Star Belgrade v Celtic
- Red Star have lost just two of their past 13 home games in the Europa League (W8 D3), winning five of seven since September 2021
- In six previous European meetings with Serbian sides (including games as Yugoslavia), Celtic have won three, lost two and drawn one, failing to win any of their three away matches during that time
Prediction for Red Star Belgrade v Celtic
Rodgers has done a fine job of papering over the cracks in recent weeks but we feel Celtic will come unstuck here.
Prediction: Red Star Belgrade 2-1 Celtic
