Celtic left Belgrade with a point on the board after drawing 1-1 with Red Star in their Europa League opener.
It was a hard-fought match in front of a hostile crowd, with Brendan Rodgers’ side showing flashes of brilliance but also the same defensive issues that have haunted them on the European stage.
The Hoops took the lead through substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, who marked his European debut with a calm finish after being set up by Benjamin Nygren. It gave Celtic a foothold in the game and briefly silenced the home support.
However, slack defending at a corner allowed Marko Arnautovic to equalise for Red Star midway through the second half. The goal summed up Celtic’s defensive struggles, as Liam Scales and others were too slow to react inside the box.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton gave his take on the performance after the match, praising Iheanacho’s impact while also highlighting areas where Rodgers’ team must improve.
Draw about right. Celtic better with Iheanacho as centre forward as they have a focal point and someone to play off… need to utilise Maeda better… Donovan mature beyond his years👏👏🍀
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) September 24, 2025
Sutton’s view summed up Celtic’s night well. Iheanacho made a clear difference when he came on, giving the team a proper target to play off and showing the kind of finishing that has often been missing in Europe. His link-up play and sharp goal gave Rodgers exactly what he was looking for.
Sutton also noted that Celtic are not getting the best out of Daizen Maeda. The Japanese forward barely had a touch before being taken off at half-time, and while his work-rate and pace are key strengths, the team must find a better way to use him if he is to make an impact.
Colby Donovan, though, earned special praise. The teenager was handed a start in one of Europe’s toughest venues and looked composed throughout. At just 19, he showed calmness and maturity that justified Rodgers’ faith in him on such a big stage.
The draw leaves Celtic with a solid start to the league phase. Sutton’s comments reflected both the positives and the frustrations: Rodgers has new attacking options to build around, but the side must defend better and be more consistent if they want to go deep in the competition.
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One Response
There isn’t a Celtic fan out there who likes Maeda more than I do! But he’s made it clear he doesn’t want to play for us anymore, and while I respect that for anyone, I don’t see why he gets a jersey before players who DO want to play!
Then again, Rodgers doesn’t want to be manager either, does he?……………..
It’s time for a freshen up!