Crvena Zvezda vs Celta
UEFA Europa League – Main Stage, Round 8
Match Date: January 29, 2026
Kick-off Time: 21:00 (Central European Time, Belgrade local time)
Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade
Match Overview
In the 8th round of the Europa League main stage, Crvena Zvezda will host Celta Vigo in Belgrade. With both sides already guaranteed a place in the playoffs, this encounter carries little competitive pressure and could unfold at a measured pace.
Team Background and Domestic Form
Crvena Zvezda have grown accustomed to domestic dominance, lifting yet another Serbian league title last spring. However, their grip on the championship is no longer unchallenged, as long-time rivals Partizan have emerged as serious contenders this season.
Celta Vigo’s recent story has been one of steady recovery. Head coach Claudio Giráldez, who arrived during the 2024/2025 campaign and successfully guided the club away from relegation danger, pushed the team to a seventh-place finish last season. This year, he is once again focused on stabilizing Celta in La Liga’s competitive mid-table.
Europa League Campaign Review
Crvena Zvezda began their European journey in the Champions League qualifiers, eliminating Lincoln Red Imps and Lech Poznań before suffering a surprising exit against debutants Pafos by a single-goal margin. Dropping into the Europa League, the Serbian side collected just one point from their first three matches. However, they finished 2025 strongly with three consecutive victories and, in January, held on to an early goal to defeat Malmö.
Celta returned to European competition with high expectations but opened with a defeat away to Stuttgart. They quickly responded by winning three matches in a row before suffering setbacks — a 2-3 loss at Ludogorets and a 1-2 home defeat to Bologna. In their most recent match, they impressed by beating Lille at home despite playing with ten men for nearly an hour.
Crvena Zvezda vs Celta: Key Stats and Trends
Crvena Zvezda have won four consecutive Europa League matches
The hosts average 0.86 goals scored and 0.71 goals conceded per match
Celta have lost two of their last three Europa League fixtures
Celta average 2.00 goals scored and 1.43 goals conceded per match
Probable Starting Lineups
Crvena Zvezda (probable lineup)
Mateus – Tiknizyan, Rodrigo, Veljkovic, Sol En U – Katai, Krunic, Elsnik, Kostov, Lucic – Arnautovic
Celta (probable lineup)
Radu – Alonso, Starfelt, Javi Rodriguez – Mingueza, Roman, Alvarez, Rueda – Svedberg, Iglesias, Aspas
Head-to-Head History
The two clubs previously met in European competition in the autumn of 2000, with each side claiming a home victory.
Odds Analysis
Market | Selection | Odds
Match Result | Crvena Zvezda Win | 2.20
Match Result | Draw | 3.40
Match Result | Celta Win | 3.10
Total Goals | Under 3.0 Goals | 1.60
Both Teams to Score | No | 1.75
Bookmakers slightly favor the hosts due to home advantage, but the odds reflect limited motivation from both sides. The total goals market suggests expectations of a controlled and low-scoring contest.
Free Prediction
With both teams already qualified for the playoffs, motivation is likely to be limited. Crvena Zvezda may rely on defensive organization at home, while Celta are unlikely to take unnecessary risks away from Spain. Under these circumstances, a cautious match with few clear chances appears the most probable scenario.
Recommended bet:
Total Under 3.0 Goals
Odds: 1.60
