The red and whites produced a memorable performance and beat Liverpool 2-0 on a night where everything went right for our team. Milan Pavkov scored twice inside a frantic seven minutes to shock the Reds and give zvezda the first victory in this season's group stage.c
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 51,318
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
Goalscorers: Pavkov 22', 29'
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Savić, Degenek, Rodić, Jovančić, Krstičić, Srnić, Marin, Ben, Pavkov.
Substitutes: Popović, Babić, Gobeljić, Jovičić, Čaušić, Simić, Stojiljković.
Liverpool: Alisson Becker, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Salah, Mane, Sturridge.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Fabinho, Keita, Firmino, Gomez, Moreno, Origi.
This UEFA Champions League match was eagerly expected in Belgrade as a clash of two former European Cup winners. It was a splendid atmosphere at a packed Rajko Mitić Stadium as Zvezda fans roared their team on. It's just one of the nights that will live forever in the memory.
Brave Zvezda players entered the match with the right mindset and never looked like surrendering. Liverpool proved once again that they are a quality side, but were sloppy in the final third and their finishing let Zvezda off the hook more than once.
But it can take nothing away from a tactically perfect Crvena zvezda performance in which all players worked hard for the team and battled to an unlikely victory.
Milan Pavkov will take many plaudits, however - and rightly so. The big striker has scored a couple of terrific goals that sent the packed Rajko Mitić Stadium into raptures.
On 22 minutes he headed a Marko Marin corner with power and beat Alisson Becker to make it 1-0. Pavkov moved wonderfully well and timed his leap to perfection. It was a classic centre forward's strike.
And what can you say about his second? He intercepted a stray Liverpool pass and took a touch before unleashing a rocket of a shot from around 25 meters out. It flew past th Brazilian goalkeeper and into the net as Zvezda fans danced in the stands.
Second half brought an expected Liverpool onslaught as Jürgen Klopp's team searched for a goal that would get them back into the game. But that goal never came, as a fine mixture of top defending, bravery, positioning, luck and top goalkeeping somehow kept the Reds at bay.
The final whistle brought huge celebrations from the fans who have waited far to long to see their beloved Zvezda win in a Champions League match.
Well done, Vladan Milojević, the staff and the players! This is what dreams are made of.