Celtic’s hunt for an away European win continues after they were pegged back by Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade in a 1-1 draw during their UEFA Europa League (UEL) group opener. For the Bhoys, the result extends their winless streak on the road in Europe since October 2021 — a record that continues to frustrate fans.
First-Half Battle: Red Star on the Front Foot
Celtic started brightly with possession, but Red Star Belgrade’s counter-attacking edge caused real problems. Nemanja Radonjić’s early strike off-target was a warning sign, and Mirko Ivanić squandered two promising opportunities soon after.
The hosts nearly broke the deadlock when Bruno Duarte’s volley hit the side-netting, while Benjamin Nygren’s free-kick gave Celtic their first shot on target. At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel kept Celtic alive with a superb fingertip save to push Duarte’s strike onto the woodwork. Both sides created half-chances before the break, but neither could find the cutting edge.
Celtic Strike First, but Red Star Responds Immediately
After halftime, Celtic began to dominate. Matheus, Red Star’s goalkeeper, was forced into three big saves in quick succession against Nygren, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Colby Donovan. The pressure finally paid off in the 56th minute as Iheanacho powered a stunning finish into the top corner, giving Celtic the lead.
But Red Star refused to roll over. Just nine minutes later, Franklin Tebo Uchenna combined well with Duarte, squaring for Marko Arnautović, who calmly restored parity for the Serbian champions. The Belgrade crowd roared back to life, and both sides chased a winner with relentless energy.
Late Drama but No Winner
Schmeichel denied Ivanić moments after the equalizer, while Matheus bravely denied Iheanacho at the other end. Celtic’s defense held strong in the closing minutes, with Liam Scales making a vital intervention to prevent Aleksandar Katai from snatching all three points for Red Star.
For the hosts, the draw adds to the momentum of three consecutive league victories since their Champions League heartbreak against Pafos. For Celtic, it’s now two wins and two draws in all competitions since their elimination by Kairat Almaty — but the elusive away European win still escapes them.
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Conclusion
Celtic may have let their lead slip, but their performance shows progress, especially with new signings like Iheanacho making an immediate impact. Red Star, meanwhile, showcased resilience and quality on its home turf. With more group stage clashes ahead, both teams will fancy their chances of advancing — and Tanzanian fans can look forward to more nights of thrilling football.
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