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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Personally I’m indifferent to the ID thingy …
If it comes to pass I’m confident only of 4 things.
1. It will deliver less benefit than promised
2. The UK government will get all proud about the deep blue colouring and Union Flag legend on the cards … which will then be manufactured somewhere in the EU
3. The Scottish government will demand their own devolved version with a wee Saltire in one of the corners.
4. We’ll foot the bill for 1-3.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy50ggv35zpo
King Donald is at it again.
Henry VIII is a benign pup by comparison.
“Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”
I am ALL FOR the ID Scheme in the UK….
Cos I am fed up being mistaken for BRAD PITT !
LOL
HH.
Huns v GENK last night.
I watched the whole game, and YET AGAIN that Hun Bassa ” DIAMONDE” showed that he just another Hun THUG.
In his 1st game against Celtic, I remember his FULL THROTTLE FOREARM SMASH into the the back of Kyogos head, during a Celtic attack in the Huns penalty area which SHOULD have led to a Celtic penalty and a Red Card for the Mankie Hun Bassa.
Ive kept my eye on him ever since, and his THUGGISH behaviour has NOT diminished.
His ” tackle” last night on the GENK Player was an ASSAULT.
Well done to the Ref for spotting it straight away WITHOUT the immediate use of VAR.
How I hate the Huns.
HH.
If it comes to pass I’m confident only of 4 things.
1. It will deliver less benefit than promised
2. The UK government will get all proud about the deep blue colouring and Union Flag legend on the cards … which will then be manufactured somewhere in the EU
3. The Scottish government will demand their own devolved version with a wee Saltire in one of the corners.
4. We’ll foot the bill for 1-3.
—–
5. It wont have been in the Labour manifesto like virtually every law this shower of authoritarian war criminals bring in.
6. The vast majority of the public wont be in favour of it – see 5.
in
I don’t have a problem with digital ID.
I’m not sure why they can’t launch a single ID which replaces all others (driving licence, passport, student ID, etc).
Labour would need to come clean on why they once again are resurrecting national ID cards. The reason given makes no sense- any employer hiring people without already following the law – paying employers tax, paying national insurance and setting up work place pension schemes will just add not doing ID card checks to their list of law breaking.
Whilst these type of cards are widespread throughout the EU, they’re used mainly for travel purposes within the Schengen area.
I think Oh got the message – make sure you score but don’t bag too many. We all want to see the Govan vegan keep his job and a 4-0 drubbing would have probably meant the exit.
How we didn’t beat them at Mordor is unfathomable. You stop Gassama getting room and they offer no other threat. And in attack hit them fast on the break. The League Cup semi will tell us a lot about whether our coaches can adopt the basic tactics that everyone else does to hammer them.
Can anyone tell me about this new reality our manager speaks of ?
Our squad is the 28th most valuable of the teams who would have been in Champs League had we qualified. 11 x more than Almaty. We had no excuse not to qualify.
Our squad is 14/15th equal with Genk of those in Europa League. So we have no excuse for not reaching last 16 at least. A chaotic rangers even got to last 8 last season.
The manager talking us down to a new ‘reality’ seems odd to me. Not motivational for players / fans or anyone.
B2B
Tend to agree on the ID thing
Additionally
6. It’ll cost a fortune, way over initial budget
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/no-celtic-no-problem-how-to-spend-the-international-break-as-a-bhoy/
Nice one.
Burnley78 on 26th September 2025 10:05 am
Yes I will have a go about the new reality
Our team today is weaker than it was this time last year
That was my take on BRs comments and for what its worth I agree with him
IMHO BR has accepted we have what we have and we get on with it
Ideal No – but hey ho
Your passion to discredit BR is your choice
I would love you to assess the actions/inactions of our Board with the same passion
But I won’t hold my breath
67ECW
Lived for many years with an ID card. Never a problem.
An Dun – 2Whilst these type of cards are widespread throughout the EU, they’re used mainly for travel purposes within the Schengen area.”
You can use the ID card instead of a passport but it is not it’s main use. It is the official ID document for everything that you do where ID is requested. Any official business with banks, doctors, lawyers, accountants, hospitals, police, town hall etc. will request your ID number and/or to see it.
It is simply part of every day life, you carry it in your wallet wherever you go. As the UK has never had this, tourists here are supposed to always carry a copy of their passport though few bother to do so.
Burnley,
Change the fekin record.You are took ng no one.
What side of the Hospitality will you be occupying at Hampden?.
Fooling.WTF
AN DÚN on 26TH SEPTEMBER 2025 9:48 AM
Labour would need to come clean on why they once again are resurrecting national ID cards.
For once I’m not being confrontational with you, what do you think their real reasons are for doing it?
To take BR’s ‘new reality’ comment at face value, it could be that the financial reality, as explained painstakingly on here by Auldheid, are now self-evident to all but Toddlers for Change. Playing in a league with no revenue and failing to qualify for CL means we need to be very careful not to overspend, given that we already have a huge wage bill.
A less charitable interpretation of BR’s motive is: if we are successful, it’s because I am a genius at managing on a shoestring; if we are not, don’t look at me.
All managers play the latter game. But BR has played it a lot frequently, and unfortunately players’ confidence could be collateral damage.
“I would love you to assess the actions/inactions of our Board with the same passion.”
Won’t happen. He’s far too ingratiated with them. Resentment and bitterness demonstrate a lack of character.
His bitterness towards Brendan damages himself not the manager.
He’s to be pitied, poor soul…
All charges dropped
A true victory for freedom of speech
https://x.com/darraghmackin/status/1971510315499302969?t=3HMrWx3jzBkjAo7PYmpyig&s=19
HH
Well Keir Starmer is just about to make some kind of statement on the manadatory ID cards, amongst other things. (The Patriotic Renewal of our Nation)
AnT, excellent news. A victory for common sense.
Starmer and his mob are indistinguishable from the lot they replaced, red unionism.
Patriotic renewal of the nation, funny as feck.
Embarrassing pandering garbage.
Menzies Campbell whom I remember from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics has died…RIP
67ECW – 🙂🙂
… was literally going to reply to B78 with “I’ll have a go” when I saw yours.
B78 – I don’t have too much to add.
If Brendan is going to lower expectations, better he does it in September rather than March.
I’ve no major beef with the tactic.
I said previously I think it will be ‘bumpy’ on the way up.
BR has experience of this from season 23/24. Perhaps he is simply leaning on that?
Plus, if he sets the bar low just now, the fans will enjoy the success more and grt on board with the journey more readily
(Reference: Ange in season 21/22)
The group clearly does not have the capacity, capability, energy and ‘rhythm’ it did 12 months ago.
I think it is reasonable to call out that headline (the underlying causes and factors are many, and opinions split)
Only minor criticism of the words used?
That reality is today’s.
I fully expect different, gradually improved realities in each of October, November, December and January.
Although, if you don’t mind Brendan? ….
… I don’t need you to talk about it monthly.
Just do your job.
Who knows? … in doing so, you might just fall in love with Celtic again.
Patriot and patriotic are words we are going to see a lot more of…and the butchers apron will become much more visible…
AN TEARMANN 11:03
👏👏👏👏👏
Wbc, Can it become more visible? I’m expecting Starmer to borrow the suit from that horrible wee shite Ian Murray.
Regarding the nonsensical ‘silent protests’- do those partaking intend being silent AT the three designated minutes (12 mins, 29 mins and 32 mins) or FOR the periods??
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 26TH SEPTEMBER 2025 11:21 AM
Other than his own, whos benefit does it serve to lower the expectations?
He should be encouraging everyone at the club to aim higher than being happy with a draw in Belgrade because of where the squad is.
It’s a criticism that was aimed at the board for years, even though nobody actually ever said it, excusing failure and lack of ambition
Now our manager is doing it it’s ok?
Burnley78
The ‘new reality’, sounds like a modern day version of Martin O’Neill’s “life in the slow lane” from way back.
And as back to basics @11.21 has pointed out Brendan has been here before with his constant refrain of needing more “quality”, a position in which he was and is abetted by Captain Flint.
I agree with you this can only undermine our players, and do not forget also that he was also prepared to loan out Colby Donovan to Dundee, which suggests he did not see him as part of his plans for this season at least.
Needs must, and Colby is getting a chance to show what he can do.
new article posted.
The New Reality; I think I saw them at FIXX or was it King Tuts ?
Supported (wholly) by The Three Stooges.
CELTIC MAC on 26TH SEPTEMBER 2025 11:54 AM
The ‘new reality’, sounds like a modern day version of Martin O’Neill’s “life in the slow lane” from way back.
That comment was about keeping our highest earners on big contracts. We were massively in debt, operating at unsustainable levels and heading for serious trouble
We did ok in the slow lane