Europa League: Red Star Belgrade Set to Face Celtic
Europa League: Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic
Venue: Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade Date: Wednesday, 24 September Time: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary available on the BBC Sport website & app.
The date was 29 May 1991, and Bari's Stadio San Nicola on Italy's picturesque southern Adriatic coast was the stage for an unforgettable moment in football history. Red Star Belgrade, a renowned club from Yugoslavia, took on Bernard Tapie’s well-funded Marseille in a gripping European Cup final.
Under the leadership of captain and goalkeeper Steven Stojanovic, Red Star defied expectations to secure victory in a tense match that ended goalless after regulation time. The outcome was ultimately decided by penalties, a format that Red Star was well-prepared for, having practiced throughout the season due to the Yugoslav league's rules for drawn matches.
Defender Sinisa Mihajlovic later remarked, "I think it was the most boring final in European Cup history," but for Red Star, the result was what mattered most. They converted all five of their penalty kicks, showcasing their resilience and determination.
At that time, Red Star boasted an impressive roster, including talents like Robert Prosinecki, Mihajlovic, Darko Pancev, and Dragisa Binic. They were formidable contenders against the likes of AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Sampdoria, and Barcelona, and many believed they were destined for more European glory.
However, the onset of war shattered this promising team. Stojanovic reflected on the lost potential, stating, "We will never know how good we could have been," as civil conflict engulfed Yugoslavia. The disqualification of the national team from the European Championship that followed further exemplified the turmoil, with Denmark famously winning the tournament in their absence.
Romanian Miodrag Belodedici, who became the first player to win the European Cup with two different clubs, expressed that Red Star would have "gone on winning for years" if not for the war's disruption. Since then, no Eastern European team has claimed the title, leaving a lingering sense of what could have been.
Katai and Arnautovic Present Threats
In the years that followed, Red Star had limited opportunities in European competitions, with only two UEFA Cup group stage appearances from 1995 due to sanctions on Serbian clubs. Recently, however, the Serbian champions have begun to regain their footing, participating in the Champions League four times in the last seven seasons.
Despite their resurgence, Red Star faced disappointment this season when they were eliminated by Cypriot side Pafos in the Champions League play-offs, denying them a third consecutive appearance at Europe's top table. Now, they prepare to take on Celtic in what promises to be a challenging encounter at the imposing Rajko Mitic Stadium.
Red Star's summer saw significant player departures, including the sales of promising young talents Velijko Milosavlejvic and Andrija Maksimovic for over £40 million. Nevertheless, they remain a formidable side, highlighted by veteran midfielder Aleksandar Katai, who has already netted 12 goals in 13 games this season, following a prolific campaign with 19 goals last year.
In their recent 'Eternal Derby' victory against Partizan, Katai was part of a dynamic attacking quartet alongside 17-year-old Vasilije Kostov, Montenegro's Mirko Ivanic, and former Premier League striker Marko Arnautovic. Arnautovic joined Red Star this summer, fulfilling a promise to his late coach Mihajlovic, who passed away from leukemia in 2022, and was visibly emotional during his unveiling.
As Celtic prepares for this encounter, they face a significant challenge in overcoming their struggles in away European matches. The team aims to kick off their Europa League campaign positively against a Red Star side that has remarkably lost only five league games in the past five seasons, a club eager to shine on the continental stage once again.