Red Star Belgrade v Celtic: Storied hosts take on Scottish champions in Europa opener

Indeed, Red Star had only two appearances in the Uefa Cup group stage to dine on across 20 years from 1995 after sanctions prevented Yugoslav clubs from entering European competition.

In recent years, the Serbian champions have begun to find their feet again with four Champions League appearances over the last seven seasons.

However, like Europa League match-day one foes Celtic, they were stunned by unfancied opponents in the play-offs for Uefa’s premier tournament as Cypriots Pafos ended Red Star’s hopes of a third successive campaign at the top table.

Brendan Rodgers will lead his Celtic side into one of the most intimidating arenas in Europe when they enter the imposing Rajko Mitic Stadium.

The hosts’ failure to get into the Champions League was caused, in part, by selling a lot of the family silver in the summer as they brought in more than £40m, including the sales of 18-year-old pair Velijko Milosavlejvic to Bournemouth and Andrija Maksimovic to RB Leipzig.

However, there remains plenty for Celtic to concern themselves with.

None more so than veteran Aleksandar Katai, who has already amassed 12 goals in 13 games from midfield having scored 19 last term as they racked up an eighth successive Serbian title.

On Saturday evening, as they defeated neighbours and bitter rivals Partizan in the ‘Eternal Derby’, Katai formed part of an attacking four with highly-rated 17-year-old Vasilije Kostov, Montenegro international Mirko Ivanic, who has seven goals himself this term, and former West Ham United and Stoke City striker Marko Arnautovic.

The latter arrived at the club in the summer amid a sea of emotion having promised his former Bolonga head coach and Red Star great Mihajlovic that he would sign for the club before the end of his career.

Mihajlovic died of leukaemia in 2022 and Austrian Arnautovic was in tears at his own unveiling as he regaled the story as it came true.

For Celtic, this will be another major test of their poor away European form as they look to start their Europa League campaign in a positive manner and taking on a side that has, incredibly, lost just five league games in the past five seasons.

It is also a club that is desperate to shine brightly on the continental stage once more.