Three key Red Star Belgrade players Celtic must stop in their Europa League opener

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Celtic’s Europa League campaign begins in just a matter of days.

Once the Hoops have got their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final clash against Partick Thistle out of the way it will be all eyes on a trip to Serbia as they face Red Star Belgrade.

Plenty of Hoops fans will travel for the Europa League games and Brendan Rodgers will feel confident that they can get off to a winning start.

Like the Bhoys, Red Star have dominated domestically and have some real talents on their hands.

Here are three players that you should be most aware of ahead of the first game of the 2025/26 Europa League.

• READ MORE: Opta supercomputer’s Celtic Europa League prediction and chances of reaching the Istanbul final

Three key Red Star Belgrade players Celtic must stop

Timi Elsnik – Midfielder

Timi Elsnik forms the base of Red Star’s midfield but sits in a slightly deeper position than usual.

Elsnik is capable of scoring from distance but likes to break up the play, get his foot on the ball and pass it around. He will also act as a brute enforcer in the middle, trying to starve Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren of any space to create.

He does lack pace, so the more agile members of the squad could get some success that way.

Aleksandar Katai – Attacker

If Celtic want to keep Red Star at bay, keeping Aleksandar Katai quiet is the key.

Red Star fans sing ‘Katai is magic’ and that’s right. He’s already nearly into double figures for goals this season and leads by example.

Sitting just behind the striker, or out on the left, the number 10 is a nightmare to deal with and likely to cause plenty of problems.

Marko Arnautovic – Attacker

Marko Arnautovic finally realised his boyhood dream by joining Red Star on a free transfer this summer.

The Austrian is of Serbian descent and now in the twilight of his career, is leading the line for the one-time European Cup winners.

Arnautovic is still getting up to speed for the Crveno-Beli, but can turn on the quality at any moment, and gives Celtic one or two things to think about.