Crvena Zvezda — Celtic : Match Preview and Prediction for September 24,2025

Crvena Zvezda’s European Aspirations

This season, Serbia’s perennial champions, Crvena Zvezda, fell short of reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage, suffering a qualifying defeat to Cypriot side Paphos (1-2, 1-1). The crucial loss occurred on their home ground, the Marakana, while the Red-Whites were on the verge of forcing extra time in the away leg but conceded a late goal right before the final whistle.

Domestic Dominance of Crvena Zvezda

Domestically, Crvena Zvezda’s performance remains consistently strong. A recent 2-1 triumph in the heated derby against Partizan, with goals from Radonjić and Elshnik, marked their seventh win in seven league matches. As a result, Vladan Milojevic’s squad sits comfortably at the top of the SuperLiga, maintaining a perfect record.

Crvena Zvezda’s Tactical Approach and Key Absences

The team prioritizes an attacking style of play whenever possible, which sometimes leaves their defense exposed, especially in European competitions. However, their squad looks formidable; during the offseason, Marko Arnautović joined the Belgrade side, having been a valuable rotational player for Inter under Inzaghi in recent years. For the match against Celtic, the hosts will be without Sandoval and Rade Krunić, the former defensive midfielder for Milan and Fenerbahçe, which undoubtedly represents a significant loss for Crvena Zvezda.

Celtic’s European Journey

Unlike Crvena Zvezda, Celtic managed to advance to the playoff round of the Champions League last season, putting up a respectable fight against Bayern (1-2, 1-1). However, much like their Serbian counterparts, the “Bhoys” will not feature in Europe’s premier club competition this season.

Celtic’s Champions League Exit

Brendan Rodgers’ side, unfortunately, couldn’t break through Kairat’s defensive “bus” in the decisive qualifying round, ending in two goalless draws (0-0, 0-0) over 210 minutes before ultimately succumbing to a penalty shootout defeat.

Celtic’s Scottish Premiership Form and Absences

In Scotland, Celtic finds themselves in a position similar to Crvena Zvezda, having completely dominated the Scottish Premiership in recent years and continuing that trend this season. Following an away victory against Kilmarnock (2-1), the Hoops lead the championship with four wins and one draw after five rounds. For their trip to Belgrade, the visitors will be without Trusty, Johnston, Jota, and Ralston.