Draw a step in right direction for Celtic but game was there for the taking

It was a performance that blended discipline, flashes of attacking quality, and the frustration of knowing an even bigger result was within reach.

In the first half Celtic kept their shape well out of possession and impressed with their pressing. In possession, however, we were still too ponderous. Passing, particularly through central midfield, was out of sync, and it’s becoming a recurring issue. Passes were inaccurate too often, and frustratingly, regularly played to marked teammates who should have been moving into space but instead remained static.

It was frustrating because, although Red Star had the better chances before the break, their defence looked shaky, and with a bit more care, attention, and execution, Celtic could and should have caused more problems.

Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will feel they let themselves down. Hatate, especially after an improved display against Partick Thistle on Sunday, dropped his levels again. He’s starting to look like a player who’s either seen it all at Celtic or one who knows no one in the squad is holding his feet to the fire, and his performances reflect that.

Maeda worked tirelessly off the ball, but he was repeatedly caught offside, struggled to hold possession, and couldn’t bring the team up the park. His half-time substitution was surprising but absolutely justified.

The introduction of Kelechi Iheanacho at half time changed everything. The passing in midfield was still patchy, but Kel provided the hold-up play and link-up option we’d been missing and scored a fine goal—he might even have had three on another night.

Celtic produced all their big moments in a second-half spell where, frustratingly, we could have had the game wrapped up. Nygren missed a glorious chance where a little height and force would have found the net, but his set-up for Iheanacho’s goal justified his inclusion. It was brave, patient, perfectly weighted, and brilliantly finished.

Having taken the lead and put Red Star on the ropes, Celtic then dropped the standards they’d set at the start of the half. We looked vulnerable defending set pieces all night, and it was no surprise when we conceded the equaliser that way. There were enough bodies to deal with the situation, but we were undone by the hungrier movement of 36-year-old Marko Arnautovic, a frustrating moment, but in truth a deserved goal and a fair result overall.

A special mention to Colby Donovan, who continues to take everything in his stride. He defends stoically, attacks with intent, and never shirks the physical battle. He was excellent in a back four that defended resolutely as they have all season, and when they were breached, Kasper stepped up with two big saves, one of world-class quality.

The midfield remains a concern. Callum McGregor looks isolated, Nygren is an effective attacker but still learning the defensive side, and Hatate is in one of his inconsistent spells and needs to snap out of it quickly.

Red Star marshalled the wings well, but Tounekti’s defensive work was excellent. He couldn’t impact offensively quite as much but already looks a valued addition to the team and capable of performing at European level. Yang gets pass marks for effort, but the quality, long a problem, doesn’t look like it’s improving. With James Forrest no longer a starter at his age, we may have to persevere with Yang. However, there were signs he could build up an understanding with Donovan on the right hand side.

Thankfully Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers were solid again, CCV producing his best game of the season. Kieran Tierney also handled a tough opponent well, though his positional understanding with Scales inside him still needs time to develop. That will come. The full-backs and wingers are starting to build chemistry, and Iheanacho looks like a player who understands his role perfectly. His hold-up play gives the midfield confidence to push higher, as we saw from McGregor in the second half.

But on the ball, we still need better midfield link-up. Hatate must shake off his funk, Nygren needs to battle more effectively, and all of them must get smarter. If they can’t match teams for physicality or athleticism, they need to use the dark arts, tactical fouls, clever trips, to counter that disadvantage.

All in all, this was a good point away from home against a side with the best home record in all European domestic competition last season. That’s a tough place to go, a tough ground to play in, and at this stage in Celtic’s rebuild it’s a very good result.

But having taken the lead, been in the ascendancy, and had Red Star rocking in their own backyard, to undo that good work with the cheap concession of a set-piece goal was frustrating.

Still, compared to Kairat, this was another step on Celtic’s climb to recovery, and we’ll take that.

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES by DAVID POTTER – OUT NOW!