The lowdown on Crvena Zvezda
FC Barcelona are heading to Belgrade for the first time this century, and here are the essentials on the team from the Serbian capital.
The city
The third largest city on the Danube river, Belgrade (literally 'white city') is one of the oldest continuously settled cities in Europe, often viewed as the crossroads between Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and other cultures. Both the capital of the former Yugoslavia and of the modern-day country of Serbia, it's famous landmarks include Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, and the city is famed for its vibrant culture and nightlife.
The club
In Serbian, the club is called Crvena Zvezda, although there is a tendency elsewhere for the name to be translated, which in English means 'Red Star'. Following World War II, all pre-war clubs in Serbia were abolished and the new club was founded by the Serbian United Antifascist Youth League, with the red star symbolising Serbian nationalism.
The most successful club in the former Yugoslavia, their most glorious moment came in 1991, when a generation of players including Dragan Stojković, Robert Prosinečki and Darko Pančev led them to victory in the European Cup, one of just two Eastern European clubs to have achieved the feat. However, this success came precisely at the moment that war was brewing in the region, and the many hardships during and after that conflict hit the club hard.
As Yugoslavia dissolved to eventually become Serbia, playing in a smaller league means Crvena Zvezda are no longer the continental giants they used to be, and for many years Partizan emerged as the city's top team. Only in the last ten years have Red Star come to dominate once again, having won the last seven editions of the Serbian Super League.
The stadium
Rajko Mitić Stadium, named after a former player and affectionately known as the Marakana, has been the club's home since 1963. It currently holds 53,000 people and is the largest venue in the country. However, the club is currently evaluating the possibility of replacing it with a new state-of-the-art stadium at a different location.
Curiously, the record goalscorer in Champions League games played at the stadium is Robert Lewandowski! In 2019/20, he scored four goals in a single game for Bayern Munich, with Hansi Flick as manager. Those goals netted in the space of just 77 minutes are more than any player has ever managed for the home team!
Head to head
Although there have been a couple of friendlies, this is the first time Barça have played a competitive match with Crvena Zvezda for 27 years (go here for a complete list and analysis). Perhaps the most famous meeting between the sides was the was the one in which Diego Maradona scored one of his finest goals ever, dribbling his way to the edge of the area and chipping over the keeper with such grace that even the home fans applauded.
Form guide
Having won the last seven editions of the Serbian Super League, this season looks to be heading in a similar direction. A draw with Mladost Lučani has been the only slip in what has otherwise been a perfect season, and there are already 11 points between Red Star and second placed Partizan.
They are competing in this season's first ever League Phase of the UCL by virtue of a narrow 3-2 aggregate win over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the playoffs. But thus far in the competition they have yet to pick up a point, their results so far being as follows:
Crvena Zvezda 1-2 Benfica
Inter Milan 3-0 Crvena Zvezda
Monaco 5-1 Crvena Zvezda
The players
Most international caps
Radonjić (Sebia 44), Miloš Degenek (Australia 44), Rade Krunić (Bosnia 34), Timi Max Elšnik (Slovenia 23), Uroš Spajić (Serbia 21), Seol Young-woo (S Korea 20), Silas (DR Congo 16), Felício Milson (Angola 16), Mirko Ivanić (Montenegro 15),Vanja Drkušić (Slovenia 15), Omri Glazer (Israel 12)
The boss
A product of the Red Star academy, Vladan Milojević ended up spending most of his playing career in Greece. This is his second stint as first team manager. From 2017 to 2019 he led the team into the Champions League group stage for the first time ever, the win over Liverpool being the highlight, and took them back the season after, so his resignation came as a surprise.
After time in Greece, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia, he agreed to return to Belgrade in 2013.