Celtic started their Europea League campaign with a draw in an excellent game of football in Belgrade against Red Star. Despite Celtic controlling most of the possession during the first 45 minutes, it was the hosts who created the best chances – until added time before the break. Cameron Carter-Vickers broke free from his marker to get on the end of a Benjamin Nygren cross but could not turn his effort on target from 6 yards.
That chance seemed to ignite Celtic as they rolled over Red Star from the opening moment of the second half. An excellent move down the left saw Kieran Tierney cut the ball deep into the box for Nygren, but his shot went too close to the keeper. Moments later Kelechi Iheanacho must have thought he had opened the scoring with a close-range shot which again found the keeper.
The opener arrived on 55 minutes. Nygren collected the ball 45 yards from goal on the wing. He drove to the edge of the box, passed a defender with a step-over, before pinging a pass to Iheanacho. It was the best football played all night and a tier one assist. This is a player. Kelechi took a touch before despatching a left foot shot high into the net. Keeper Matheus got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
The lead was no more than Celtic deserved. Red Star rallied and equalised from a corner 10 minutes later, where they got the first three touches on the cross (sigh), culminating in Arnautovic knocking the ball home from 3 yards.
Celtic visibly tired as the game concluded and dropped deep to hold the line in the closing 10 minutes. Reo Hatate came in for some soft criticism on TV during the game, but it was when he wilted that Celtic found it difficult to build play. Still, Iheanacho had the best chance to win the game when again clean through, but his chip caught the keeper’s face. Whatever happened to him in Middlesborough, is no longer relevant.
In the old home and away double header days, we would have been happy with this result as Red Star looked like a team we would take at home. The manager seemed irked when questioned post-match about the search for an away win in Europe. It will be four years since our last non-qualification win on the road by the time we next play away. These games are significantly more taxing than anything we face domestically (which is a big part of the problem). Still, hope in our hearts, and all that? Belgrade is not Bergamo, no matter how long the tunnel.
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Celtic40Me
I think you are correct in what you say about why most of the non Celtic supporting players come here.
Another reason is a chance to revive a flagging career.
On the Adam Idah thing, I believe he was signed to be the number one striker as Brendan prefers a big, pacy, physical centre forward.
For example, Moussa Dembele, odsonne Edouard style preferred to Leigh Griffiths.
To me, when Adam Idah was signed it was to bring in this style of player to suit the system and Kyogo would have to find a place elsewhere in the team.
Again, just my opinion.
Today’s right wing problem appears more problematic than the latest transfer windae’s striker problem and the longstandingly problematic problem of replacing KT at left back with KT, aside from the upcoming problems of losing and replacing Daizen, Reo and Yang all in next January’s window, which could be three problems in one single window.
Sometimes it can be difficult to work out who or what Brendan is alluding to in his press conferences.
For example, I’m sure he said the other day he prefers Bombay Sapphire, no idea what that was about 😁
Also, regarding Daizen’s “body language”, if I was going to pick a Celtic team based on attitude and work rate he would be one of the first names on my team sheet.
If a 19 year old Ben Doak (no double barrelled names allowed) is worth £25 million, how much would a 19 year old James Forrest be worth these days?
QUADROPHENIAN on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2025 3:10 PM
It’s not like we shouldn’t have sen it coming, every player who comes to Celtic has one eye on a move to a bigger league.
It’s been in the post for two years now. You cant replace 17m sales like for like, you have to develop them. We aren’t, it’s biting is on the arse
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2025 3:08 PM
In another time I think Idah would have been our first choice for years. Hes better than most we’ve had but he’s been up against two very good Celtic strikers. Overpaying didnt help him, and he got caught up in the crossfire in the battle that Brendan seems to want to carry on
I think Brendan failed him a bit, he didn’t manage him well, he didn’t develop at all. Maybe that’s all on him, though.
Celtic40me
We’ll probably never know the full story, but it is probably better kept in house. No point in having a public rammy about these things.
Saint Stivs @ 2:06 pm
Supporters demand change – until it comes, business as usual is not an option
https://x.com/CFC_Collective/status/1970567943063798029
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Cheers SS.
Sigh.
We want meaningful dialogue so we’re not coming to your meeting.
Way to go, guys.
Hot on the heels of the protest at Firhill …
… holding up pieces of paper which they blissfully ignored, then scrunching up those pieces of paper and chucking them en masse onto the pitch …
I’m sure this is the right way to be taken seriously.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2025 3:52 PM
Agreed
Ah mean, even the Huns fans wouldn’t blame their board for the shortcomings of their £75,000 per week manager, if they ever had one.
Shoorley?
Boyata, Ntcham, Dembele, Maeda, Kyogo?
Remember Fergus did the same to the 3 Amigo’s, PVH, Jorge Cadette, Paulo Di Canio.
Lawwell was wrong when he was correctly blamed for shafting Kayal from his move, back in the day.
BK put down the tools and was not the same player after Leezy McCulloch Hun more or less put BK out of the game at Celtic with a brutal tackle after Neil Lennon turned BK into a half decent player.
We used to be a Football club back in the day, now we have a bigger employee turnover than Amazon. Probably.
I made the point a wee while back that had we let both Maeda (who we had received an offer for which his agent hoped Celtic would accept) and Idah we would lose players who, last season, scored over fifty goals between them. Interestingly enough the club that made the offer, Brentford, got a pointed mention in Donald McRae’s Guardian interview with Martin O’Neill on Tuesday, and posted on here. Or rather their new boss Keith Andrews did. “Keith is not my favourite person….” Now, it looks to me that the three clubs promoted to the EPL might just make a go of it this season, while a weaker Brentford may struggle, so a possible scenario is that Maeda could end up joining a club in January heading for the Championship. (triggering more than a hint of schadenfreude from Martin) Or another that an in form Maeda, might just help keep them up, hence a willingness to pay a decent transfer fee. Would still need to replace him mind.
And if you are the Board and are genuinely willing to meet with a responsible fans’ group what would you make of:
1. Ad hominem attacks, with lines through pictures of you and your colleagues, which must seem unsettling if not down right menacing – and straight from the hun playbook.
2. Marching late into a match like a bunch of pantomime horses – look at me…
2. The throwing of paper onto the pitch, interrupting the flow and disturbing the players.
3. A refusal to meet when an invitation is made.
4. A boycott of EL games when the manager the fans claim to be standing up for has asked them to attend.
I wouldn’t touch these characters with a barge pole.
!!Bada Bing!! on 25th September 2025 1:27 pm
Donovan looks like he could play CB,embdae know if he’s played there for the B Team?
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I don’t know but also wondered. He’s been very impressive in the few games we’ve seen him, especially last night. Looks a great prospect, very athletic and is still motoring at the end of games. I also noticed last night that he can certainly launch a ball at a throw-in, as can KT. Would like to see Murray get a start on Saturday.
Meada had a terrible game last night it happens, he scored against Killie and was plumbing the badge on his shirt towards the crowd.
That doesn’t look like ” I’m in the huff” stuff. Perhaps more innocently their new born wean is keeping them up at nights 🙃
Got moved for the Europa games ( first time in a while) , informed by email on 15th Sep , tickets to be posted.
Worth checking cfc
Good evening all from the Laurieston Bar.
In the equivalent time of one and a half full games….Iheanacho has scored 2 and assisted 1…that’s a player right there.
Schmeichel’s save last night was almost up there with Fraser Forster (one of my top 10 heroes)
Colby Donovan…almost like a young KT.
Scales….the proplep0 who thought we needed an upgrade etc, now have to pipe down…the guy is now a £15m defender and should/will get a new contract to reflect this very shortly.
KT….has upped everyone’s game.
CCV…..probably the best Celtic centre half EVER.
Nygren…hes going to hit 30 goals and assists in his 1st season
CalMac….Just behind McStay as the greatest centre mid we’ve had since 1980…..forbthose who don’t rate him….there’s other sports.
Jamesy Forrest….keep bringing him on at 65 mins every game. whatever the score and he’ll continue to be a star gor 2/3 years.
Young Seb…when Jota comes back he’ll up his game even further.
Jota….going to be a real legend for us- even better than before.
BoredatworkCSC
Donovan’s performance last night was even more impressive given he had Yang in front of him.
On Maeda…he never played that different last night from his last season’s form except for one thing…his sprints seemed to be a wee bit less snd a wee bit slower.
I love the guy snd we should appreciate and love him for the next 14 weeks and let him go and be remembered as a phenomenon and a legend.
Reo……needs a move to Germany or Italy and we should likewise support him and see him off with good wishes etc.
Along with Kyogo they have given us great moments, performances, memories etc.
Daezan’s 47 sec goal against Tav.
Reo’s debut goal/missile at Tynecastle
Kyogo”s constant skelping of Sevco.
Does anyone else think that Engels has all the attributes to be a star but maybe he needs a whole new position?
I think he could become a top class right back or RWB???
Anyway….mon the Genk (sorry Chairboy but we all want the new huns pumped)
…CCV…..probably the best Celtic centre half EVER.
Only if I was born yesterday 👍
Genk fans giving it laldy in St Enoch Square. 🤣
I have a couple of tickets for Celtic v Hibs on Saturday, one for a Syrian friend and neighbour Hassan, a former refugee who is now a UK citizen with a Scottish wife and a 2 year-old daughter.
Hassan loves football and has been to Easter Road a few times but a month or so ago he told me that his favourite team is Celtic even though he has only seen them on TV.
I offered to get him a ticket from my supporters club for a visit to Paradise and Saturday will be his big day. Hassan is very excited and can’t wait to see the Hoops in the flesh. We’ll be in the front stand next to the tunnel.
Looking forward to a great game and another three points.
Looking forward to the new firm derby on Sunday?
Livingston v Sevco.
The two newest clubs in the league clash at Almondvale in the most important match of the season so far.
Can sevco avoid being bottom of the league? :)
Ziggydoc….who is the best Celtic centre half you’ve seen?
Ziggydoc….who’s the best CH you’ve ever seen in the Hoops?
Tom
I hope he enjoys the game.
Does he know he has to miss the first 12 minutes? :)
Huns v Genk…..2-2 correct score is 14/1.
European football especially away from home is never easy but I thought Celtic played the perfect tactics of possession football keeping the home support quiet for much of the opening half restricting the opposition to a couple chances with Kasper having to make one brilliant save.
We rarely threatened in that opening period but really opened up in the second half creating a lot great chances carving open the Red Star defence and could have won the game. The substitutions worked a treat with Iheanacho scoring a brilliant goal and could easily had a hatrick but for the brilliance of the opposing goalie.. James looked threatening when introduced from the bench.
Iheanacho probably my player of the match, great holdup play and always looked dangerous. Great centre forward play and long may it continue. Nygren also impressive in second hallf. Back four were excellent especially young Donovan, this lad is going places. Great start to the league onwards and upwards.
Tom- well done
Laxalt on 25th September 2025 6:02 pm
Ziggydoc….who’s the best CH you’ve ever seen in the Hoops?
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A man of many talents and positions, George Connelly. Would be priceless today.
me pleased with the away point in a european game
me not pleased with the prospect of facing the huns – we need a a plan b against a mediocre team.
GGH
😁👍
BADA BING
Thanks.
Ziggy…can’t argue with that.
I never got to see George Connelly or Big Billy unfortunately.
I also know we had some top-notch short term CHs…..VVD, Pat Stsnton and Paul Elliott among others im sure👍
the Go Ahead Eagles are 1 down to FCSB !
Daizen never really got motoring last night but I wouldn’t be over critical of the lad. He did score probably the goal of his lifetime a couple of weeks ago with that brilliant diving header and maybe took his life in his hands doing so.
Laxalt on 25th September 2025 6:26 pm
Ziggy…can’t argue with that.
I never got to see George Connelly or Big Billy unfortunately.
I also know we had some top-notch short term CHs…..VVD, Pat Stsnton and Paul Elliott among others im sure👍
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Pat Stanton was another guy who could play sweeper or midfield. Class player.
JACKIEMAC on 25TH SEPTEMBER 2025 6:27 PM
Braga beat Feyenoord 1-0 last night so we’ll probably face a decent team next week.