Celtic and Rangers have travelled to some of the most intimidating stadiums across Europe over the years.
In the Champions League, Celtic have faced full houses at the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
In the Europa League the Bhoys have also played at Lazio, Valencia and Anfield as Celtic beat some of Europe’s best teams across all levels of European football home and away.
However, Ally McCoist has shared the most ‘hostile’ stadium he’s visited as a player and admits his Rangers side took a ‘doing’.
And ironically, it’s a stadium Celtic remain unbeaten in having visited it twice. Once in the European Cup and once in the Europa League.
Photo by PREDRAG MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty ImagesAlly McCoist admits fear of Red Star Belgrade at Rangers after Celtic’s Europa League draw
Celtic’s draw with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League was a very good result for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
A precious point at a difficult venue cannot be sniffed at. However, for McCoist he recalls the Serbian side’s Rajko Mitic Stadium with fear and admits it’s the most ‘intimidating’ place he’s ever visited.
McCoist told talkSPORT [3h 54s], “No doubt about it. Belgrade, Serbia and England did the perfect thing scoring early on, and it becomes, becomes a different, totally different environment.
“But twice I was here, I mean we got three-nothing doing over there the year they won it.
“Like I mentioned before, the ridiculous team, Panchev, Prosinecki, Mihilovic, absolutely superb team, one of the great teams in the 90s.
“We had a good team with Butcher and Souness, and they gave us a three nothing, and it could have been anything.
“But the atmosphere was absolutely incredible. And then on the way to the final in 2008, we got a nothing each there.
“And it’s what makes it even more intimidating, there is a tunnel you’ve got to walk through you, which is maybe, I mean, it feels like 100 yards, but certainly 50 and all the armed police, helmets on, riot shields, all that kind of stuff when you come out.
“That for me, definitely most intimidating. I mean, Turkey would probably come into the equation as well. But Belgrade for me, by a distance.”
Celtic’s record vs Red Star Belgrade compared to Rangers
Celtic have faced Red Star Belgrade three times in the club’s history.
The Bhoys have recorded a huge 5-1 win back in 1968 at Parkhead which was followed up by a scoreless draw in Serbia.
And, of course, Brendan Rodgers took his side to Belgrade this season as Celtic drew with Red Star in the Europa League.
For Rangers, they’re more accustomed to facing the Serbians having played them nine times since 1964.
The Ibrox club have recorded four wins, three draws and lost three times over the course of the two clubs’ history which, of course, includes that 3-0 beating McCoist was speaking about in 1990.