UEFA Europa LeagueWednesday, September 24, 2025Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade CRVENA ZVEZDA…1(Arnautović 65) CELTIC…1(Iheanacho 56) It ended all-square in Belgrade this evening as Crvena Zvezda and Celtic played out a 1-1 draw after two second-half goals secured a point apiece for both sides on matchday one of this season’s UEFA Europa League. After a day of scorching temperatures and blazing sunshine in the Serbian capital, the heavens opened just before kick-off, but the unexpected deluge done nothing to dampen the spirits of the home support or the travelling Celtic faithful, with both sets of fans producing a wall of noise as the game got underway. Both sides spent much of the opening spell trying to work their way in to the match, though Red Star were a threat from balls into the box, with the home side creating a few half-chances in the opening 20 minutes. At the other end, Sebastian Tounekti looked lively on the left, whilst Benjamin Nygren, Yang and Colby Donovan were linking up well on the right-hand side. Crvena Zvezda side squandered a big chance on the half-hour mark when Bruno Duarte hit the side-netting with a volley after a cross from the left was sent deep to the back post towards the Brazilian forward. Moments later, Kasper Schmeichel produced a superb save, touching Duarte’s powerful effort from outside the area on to the crossbar to keep the score level. The chances were beginning to pile up for Crvena Zvezda, and Marko Arnautović was the next to go close with an almost identical chance to Duarte’s at the back post, only this time the striker smashed his effort narrowly wide. Celtic fashioned their best chance of the half just on the stroke of half-time when Nygren’s free-kick was met by Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back post, but the defender’s effort drifted just wide of the target. Celtic had a huge chance early in the second half when Kieran Tierney picked out Benjamin Nygren in the box, with the Swede in a brilliant shooting position, but his first-time effort was fired straight at the keeper who made the save. Then came a chance for Kelechi Iheanacho, who had come on at the break for Daizen, but the Nigerian forward was denied from close-range by a brave piece of goalkeeping. But for all Magalhães in the Crvena Zvezda goal would have been feeling good about his two big saves, he could do nothing about Iheanacho’s effort on 55 minutes which put Celtic 1-0 ahead. Nygren produced an inspired piece of play in the build-up, weaving his way towards the edge of the box from the right wing before threading the ball through to Iheanacho, whose superb touch and finish sparked wild celebrations amongst the Celtic support. However, 10 minutes later Crvena Zvezda equalised from a corner which was headed towards the back post before being swept back in to the six-yard box where Marko Anautović was waiting to divert it in to the back of the net. Iheanacho then found himself with another massive chance with just under 20 minutes left to play when Tounekti threaded a pass through to the forward in the box, but another piece of brave goalkeeping from Magalhães denied Celtic the lead. Whilst the Celts continued to hunt for more opportunities, they had to remain focused in defence, and the performances of the back-line throughout the course of the night was enough to ensure that Brendan Rodgers’ men weren’t punished any further by a Crvena Zvezdar forward line that has bagged 30 goals in seven domestic games so far this season. #With the game ending in a 1-1 draw, both sides will likely reflect on chances that they had throughout the 90 minutes to take all three points, but nevertheless, a point in Belgrade represents a positive start to the UEFA Europa League campaign for the Hoops, who will now look ahead to the visit of Hibernian to Celtic Park this weekend.
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