Celtic don’t have long to wait before their European league phase campaign kicks off.
On Wednesday evening, the Hoops will commence their journey in the Europa League with an away tie against Red Star Belgrade.
Red Star, also known as FK Crvena Zvezda, are flying in the Serbian top-flight and head into the Celtic encounter with real confidence.
This will be Celtic’s seventh competitive meeting with a side from Serbia, which was part of the former Yugoslavia until the early 1990s.
So what does the Scottish champions’ record against Serbian sides look like across history? 67 Hail Hail provides a full insight below.
Celtic vs FK Vojvodina (1966/67 European Cup quarter-final)
Celtic’s first ever meeting with a Serbian side, or rather a Yugoslavian team in 1967, was against FK Vojvodina in the European Cup.
The two-legged affair was played in the March and the winner would advance to the semi-final stage to play Dukla Prague.
Celtic played in Novi Sad for the first leg and actually lost the game 1-0 due to a misplaced pass by Tommy Gemmell.
It was otherwise a fantastic defensive display – with captain Billy McNeill magnificent at the back – but Jock Stein’s side had nothing to show for it.
Not to worry though, because in the return leg at Celtic Park a week later, Celtic put in a relentless attacking display to just about break down Vojvodina.
Stevie Chalmers levelled the tie at 1-1 before McNeill scored a dramatic winner late in the game, which is said to have produced one of the loudest roars of celebration ever at Parkhead.
It proved to be the last action of the game as the Swedish referee – who only had one hand – blew for full-time amid the delirium.
Celtic vs Red Star Belgrade (1968/69 European Cup second round)
A year-and-a-half after Celtic went on to win the 1967 European Cup in Lisbon, Red Star Belgrade were the opponents in the same competition.
Some say the first leg performance was Jimmy Johnstone’s best in a Celtic shirt, which was all down to a promise Jock Stein made the winger at half-time.
Celtic went into the interval drawing 1-1 with Red Star, so Stein told Johnstone that if the Hoops went on to win the game by at least four goals, he would not be required for the second leg in Belgrade.
The reason for this incentive was that Jinky was terrified of flying, so understandably was keen not to be on that plane to Yugoslavia the next week.
So Johnstone went on to produce a spellbinding display with two goals in the second-half, as Celtic romped to a 5-1 triumph.
The following week, a 1-1 draw was secured and meant Celtic progressed to the next round.
Celtic vs Partizan Belgrade (1989/90 European Cup Winners’ Cup first round)
This tie was last Celtic faced against Serbian opposition, coming in the opening round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989.
And there is absolutely no doubt that the second leg was one of the most incredible yet heartbreaking nights at Celtic Park.
After a 2-1 away defeat to Partizan, Celtic fans packed out Parkhead for a thrilling second leg contest that ended in a 5-4 win for the Hoops.
But they were knocked out on away goals with the aggregate score ending an unbelievable 6-6!
Darius Dziekanowski scored four goals on the night for Celtic, with strike partner Andy Walker adding another. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome Partizan.
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