Another European away trip ends in frustration for Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers’ side held to a 1-1 draw by Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening to mark a mixed start to their latest Europa League adventure.
There were no doubt echoes of Kairat about the first-half in Belgrade, with the visitors left with little to show for their dominance in possession, having also been forced to rely on the brilliance of Kasper Schmeichel to keep the home side at bay.
A rather uneventful opening 45 – excluding that stunning save from the veteran Dane – was subsequently followed by a far more exciting second period, with the introduction of summer signing, Kelechi Iheanacho, finally sparking the Hoops into life.
It was to be the experienced Nigerian who ultimately broke the deadlock for the Scottish champions with a tidy close range finish, albeit with another man of Premier League years past – Marko Arnautovic – reducing the arrears just ten minutes later.
There was to be no further breakthrough from either side, ensuring Rodgers will be left to ponder what he could have done differently following a Jekyll and Hyde display from his Glasgow outfit.
Iheanacho provides solution to Maeda problem
It isn’t exactly a new opinion to suggest that Celtic’s summer business was far from perfect. Indeed, even the positives – such as the arrival of Sebastian Tounekti – need to be scrutinised, particularly amid the stockpiling of talent on the left flank.
With the injured Jota already onboard, Rodgers and co have since added two players who predominantly operate off the left, in the form of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Tounekti, the latter of whom opened his account against Partick Thistle at the weekend.
Such reinforcements have left the Celtic boss with a headache to solve regarding last season’s talisman, Daizen Maeda, with the 33-goal star subsequently relocated into the vacant number nine berth on Wednesday night.
Minutes
45
45
Touches
7
14
Goals
0
1
Pass accuracy
75%
88%
Key passes
0
0
Shots
0
3
Total duels won
0
0
Possession lost
2
3
Offside
2
0
While no stranger to that role, the Japanese speedster almost had an air of a player who didn’t want to be there, having regularly been too slow in getting himself back onside. In all, he made just seven touches, and failed to win a single duel, as per Sofascore, in what was a simply anonymous 45-minute outing.
For all the talk of desperation surrounding the addition of Iheanacho, the one-time Leicester City looked like an instant upgrade following his entrance at the break, having linked play so effectively again, as he did on Sunday.
Despite seeing two efforts denied by the impressive figure of Matheus in the opposing goal, the 28-year-old’s eventual goal was one of pure poise and composure, expertly receiving Benjamin Nygren’s pass before curling the ball home with ease.
It is still early days, although the free transfer signing already looks like he could have forced his way into Rodgers’ starting lineup. Elsewhere, however, his new teammate Reo Hatate looks to have played his way out of it…
One Celtic star's dismal display in numbers
There’s no getting away from what was a forgettable performance from Maeda in Belgrade, albeit with the makeshift striker getting little in the way of support from his teammates, with chances at a premium in that uninspiring first half.
Among those toiling behind him was his compatriot, Hatate, with the 27-year-old looking bizarrely lax and laboured in the centre of the park, prior to his withdrawal just after the hour mark.
As ever, there was purpose to Callum McGregor’s play at the base of the midfield, while new man Nygren was an effective link between that central trio and the attacking unit, creating three ‘big chances’ and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.
The elegant Swede was the creative hub in the second half, in particular, although on the opposite side, Hatate’s influence continued to wane, having been unable to provide a single key pass all night.
Not only did he lose 50% of his total duels, but the former Kawasaki Frontale star also lost possession on 13 occasions, at a rate of once every 3.3 touches.
Wasteful and slack on the ball, it was no surprise to see Celtic’s number 41 eventually hooked heading into the closing stages, with perhaps now the time for Rodgers to hand a regular role to Arne Engels – or Paulo Bernardo – instead in that central role.
Yes, as he showcased with his August stunner against Aberdeen, Hatate is capable of a magic moment when at his best. Sadly, however, those moments appear to now be few and far between, with just one goal and no assists from his eight outings in 2025/26 thus far.
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With Engels and Bernardo waiting in the wings, it begs the question as to why Rodgers hasn’t been tempted to alter that midfield pecking order in recent weeks. Perhaps after last night’s showing, that situation might well have changed…