Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic Prediction: Back hosts to continue their winning ways

The UEFA Europa League begins in midweek, with 18 matches evenly spread across Wednesday and Thursday evening. Celtic return to the competition with a daunting trip to Belgrade to face an in-form Red Star. 

Betfred’s Frank Monkhouse offers his big match preview for us here at Betfred Insights. You can follow the action live on TNT Sports from 20:00 BST and check out Frank's Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic Predictions below...

*You can check out all of the Football Odds and betting markets we offer over at betfred.com

Serbian SuperLiga champions Red Star Belgrade welcome Scottish Premiership winners Celtic to Rajko Mitic Stadium in the opening round of the Europa League. The home team arrive in good form, but the current betting odds suggest they’ll face a tough night against Brendan Rodgers’ side.

You can bet on over 100 pre-match and live betting markets on the Betfred app and website now.

Celtic travel to Belgrade following a weekend win over Partick Thistle in the League Cup. The Hoops suffered the embarrassment of being knocked out of the Champions League over two legs by the minnows of Kairat Almaty, who won 3-2 on penalties.

Fans were distraught and demand much better from their team in Europe’s second tournament. Will the Glaswegians score an important three points here?

Red Star vs Celtic Odds

The Belgrade vs Celtic pre-match betting odds prepare armchair fans for an interesting 90 minutes. Red Star may be the home team boasting strong stats at this venue, but Betfred traders believe an away win is the most likely outcome. There’s very little between the rivals in the betting, which is great news for value hunters.

The locals set up on the back of an eye-catching league win over Partizan at the weekend, a result that sent Vladan Milojevic’s team to the top of the pile. You can back another victory at 2/1, and that’s sure to attract plenty of attention this week.

Celtic touch down in decent form themselves. They are joint-top of the Scottish Premiership with Hearts after winning four and drawing one of their opening five. The Hoops have scored eight goals in that competition, conceding only one. Defending the Premiership title is highly likely, given the turmoil at rivals Rangers across the city. But fans want to see Rodgers add European success to his growing list of trophies.

Victory would serve as a statement of intent, showing Celtic can win difficult games in Europe and will be a force in the Europa League. A defeat would pile pressure on the manager, board, and squad. The away day is 11/8, with the draw at 12/5.

Over 2.5 goals

Our first pick in the Serbian capital is for Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic to produce three or more goals. You’ll find this bet in the total goals market on the Betfred app and site, and it covers goals scored from both teams combined.

The result and match-winner isn’t important here, and a 2-2 draw will earn you the same as a 3-0 home win. It’s an approach that allows you to enjoy the match on TV and celebrate every goal scored.

A bet on over 2.5 goals would’ve landed you a profit when Red Star beat Partizan 2-1 at the weekend, and a stunning 7-1 against Zeleznicar Pancevo when last at home. They also hammered Novi Pazar 5-1 and Mladost Lucano 4-1 last month.

When adding Celtic’s 2-1 away win over Kilmarnock in the Premiership, 3-0 home victory over Livingston and the 4-1 thrashing of Falkirk in the League Cup, we have a strong play on our hands. Bet on over 2.5 goals in Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic and hope Thursday’s game lives up to expectations.

Red Star Belgrade win

Our second bet comes with more attractive odds attached, and we’re backing the locals to hit the ground running. I was surprised to see the hosts as underdogs in the betting this week.

I expected the prices to be the other way around, with Red Star kicking off as the main bet in the match-winner market. That makes Belgrade the value play here, and their form shows they’re good enough to give us a run for our money.

Having attended a match in Belgrade, I am aware of the intimidating atmosphere that awaits the Celtic players and their fans, not just at the venue, but throughout much of the city.

It’ll take the visitors some getting used to, and that’ll give Red Star the advantage they need. Walking into a cauldron of noise is nothing new to the Hoops, but they’re up against an ambitious, well-coached and confident host. Back the home win and hope Belgrade continues their impressive streak.

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Frank Monkhouse Scottish Football P/L

25/26 Season:

• Points Placed: 47
• Points Returned: 31.87
• P/L: -15.13

24/25 Season:

• Points Placed: 257
• Points Returned: 252.25
• P/L: -4.75

Frank Monkhouse covers Scottish Football for us here at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his work along with that of the rest of our Football Betting Tips desk on our main Football page...