In a night of pulsating tension and shifting momentum at the Stadion Rajko Mitić, Crvena Zvezda and Celtic served up a compelling Europa League opener that ended in a 1-1 draw. The visiting Hoops appeared to be heading for a precious road win when Kelechi Iheanacho struck just after the hour, only for veteran Marko Arnautović to haul the hosts level ten minutes later.
The result felt like a fair reflection of a contest defined by tactical adjustments, grit, and sequencing more than outright dominance.
Celtic entered the fixture seeking redemption after their early elimination from the Champions League, and manager Brendan Rodgers made it clear his side would have to dig deep in hostile territory. The first half unfolded cagey and cautious, both teams probing, neither willing to overcommit.
Chances were rare. Crvena Zvezda looked most dangerous from aerial deliveries and crosses, while Celtic’s best openings stemmed from the left side of defence, where Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren attempted to work combinations.
Red Star’s Mirko Ivanić nodded a free header wide and Bruno Duarte volleyed off-target, but none of those early moves threatened to truly destabilize Celtic’s backline.
Daizen Maeda, beginning up front for the Hoops, struggled to find service and was ultimately sacrificed at half-time in favour of Iheanacho, a substitution that would prove decisive. At the break, the score remained level.
Remi u prvom kolu ligaške faze Lige Evrope.
⚪️ #fkcz #UEL pic.twitter.com/LfPqV171EK
— FK Crvena zvezda (@crvenazvezdafk) September 24, 2025
Coming out after the interval, Celtic displayed more vigor. Within minutes, they forced successive saves from Crvena Zvezda’s goalkeeper Matheus: Nygren’s cutback shot, a close-range half-volley from Iheanacho, and a flick from a corner all tested the home defence and shot-stopper in quick succession. These flashes of threat hinted at what was to come.
In the 55th minute, Celtic broke the deadlock. Nygren, cutting in from the wing, delivered a precise pass into the heart of the Red Star area. Iheanacho took a touch to settle before curling a composed finish into the top corner from around 16 yards.
The goal displayed calm and confidence, qualities Celtic badly needed after an uncertain start to their European campaign.
But their lead would not last. In the 65th minute, from a set-piece won by Nair Tiknizyan down the flank, the hosts worked the ball back infield, and Tebo Uchenna’s cutback found Arnautović at the back post, unmarked.
The former Premier League forward reacted quickest, beating Cameron Carter-Vickers in the scramble and poking home to send the stadium into raptures. The strike was historic: it marked the longest gap between two Europa League goals for Arnautović, his last in Europe having been more than 16 years ago.
From then until the final whistle, neither side surrendered the initiative. Crvena Zvezda pressed with urgency, sending crosses into Celtic’s box and testing nerves, while the visitors absorbed pressure and looked to counter when space opened.
Celtic’s defence was forced into several scrambles — a slip by Ryo Hatate almost proved costly, but Schmeichel stood firm, denying Mirko Ivanić with a sprawling foot block. The home side came close to snatching it late, but the Hoops stayed resolute. Substitute Marcelo Saracchi helped quell the threat in the final passages.
In the closing minutes, emotions flared. A tussle over a loose ball sparked a confrontation between Arnautović and Celtic defender Liam Scales. The pair squared off but escaped dismissal — a reminder of the raw atmosphere in Belgrade on such nights.
In the aftermath, opinions diverged. Brendan Rodgers was measured in his assessment, praising the character of his players. He acknowledged the substitute change that brought Iheanacho into the fray had been made to inject control and composure in the attacking third.
Kasper Schmeichel, too, offered words of affirmation. On social media he applauded his teammates and the travelling support, calling the point “important” given how tough the environment was.
From Crvena Zvezda’s point of view, a point at home against a Celtic side with European aspirations will feel like something worthwhile — though the hosts will know they might have done more to take all three.
For Celtic, the takeaway is more nuanced. The goal from Iheanacho will restore some faith in their attacking depth, especially given friction around their summer transfer dealings and Maeda’s underwhelming display.