Arnautovic & Cham Celebrate Successful League Start

While the title is still being contested at the 2026 World Cup, the new season has already begun in Serbia.

Double winners Red Star Belgrade opened the 2026/27 season on Friday evening with a dominant 5-0 home win against promoted side Macva Sabac. The two Austrians Marko Arnautovic and Muhammed Cham also featured.

Cham Celebrates Competitive Debut

Just two weeks after Austria's World Cup exit against Spain – his last international match in an Austria jersey – Arnautovic is already back on the pitch for his club. The Austrian record international was substituted on in the 63rd minute.

At the same time, new signing Muhammed Cham also celebrates his competitive debut for the Serbian record champions. The attacking player had moved to Belgrade on loan in the summer and collected his first minutes of action against Macva Sabac.

Red Star Seals the Deal Before Halftime

The hosts left no doubt about a successful start to the season from the very beginning. Bruno Duarte gave Red Star the lead in the seventh minute, and Rade Krunic made it 2-0 just eleven minutes later.

Still before halftime, an own goal from Issa Kone (33') ensured a comfortable 3-0 halftime lead.

After the break, Vasilije Kostov bagged a brace with goals in the 48th and 82nd minutes, establishing the 5-0 final score.

For Red Star, it is a fitting start to their mission of title defence. The Serbian record champions enter the new season as reigning double winners and dominantly lived up to their role as favourites in the league opener against promoted side Macva Sabac, who are back in the top flight for the first time since the 2020/21 season.