Celtic

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Celtic captain Callum McGregor plays down Hearts' promising start to the season after the Tynecastle side moved two points above the defending champions at the top of the Premiership, saying: "Anyone can get off to a good start. Aberdeen did it last year." (Record), external

McGregor suggests the table will be more relevant after 36 games rather than six. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Roma could face Celtic in the Europa League in Glasgow without travelling supporters following crowd trouble in the Italian club's recent win in Nice. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Celtic dropped Scottish Premiership points for the second time this season - and slipped to second place in the table - as they were held to a stalemate by a stuffy Hibernian.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I was happy with the performance.

"I think every metric in the game we were dominant. I thought today our football was really good, we went through the pitch well but we just lacked that killer instinct in the box. But I also think they defended the box really well so we need to credit Hibs for that.

"We had good chances, I don't think there's any doubt about that. When the ball broke through we counter-pressed really well and we dealt well with the set pieces but it was just that final touch in the box we were lacking. We just couldn't find the back of the net and when we did it was offside.

"The players are gaining confidence. I thought Marcelo [Saracchi] was excellent and played the ball really well, Sebastian [Tounekti] is excellent in 1v1s. I can't complain performance wise it was just that little bit in the final third that was lacking. We'll take the positives from the performance into Thursday.

"My focus is on the group of players that are here who are full of endeavour. Whatever we did or didn't get is irrelevant now. We have to make the most of the players that are here and like I said I thought performance wise it was really good today we just couldn't score.

"It's a long season. It's very, very early but we want to win every game we play and that's the nature of being at Celtic. I think the supporters can see today that the team did everything and you've got to give credit to the opposition who defended for their lives and kept the clean sheet."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho says he "can't wait to be a champion" with the club.

The 28-year-old joined the Scottish Premiership leaders and title holders at the start of the month after he came to an agreement with Sevilla to terminate his deal on deadline day.

In his first three appearances for Celtic, the striker has already scored two vital goals.

"Personally, obviously, as a striker, I want to score goals, I want to help the team to achieve great things this season, to win trophies and go far in the European competitions as well," he said.

"Obviously, Celtic is the kind of team that win trophies, so I'm happy being here. I can't wait to win trophies with them, hopefully, we can achieve those this season, I can't wait to be a champion with them."

His move to Celtic reunites him with Brendan Rodgers, who was his manager at Leicester City.

Iheanacho added: "I have very good communication with him, both on the pitch and outside the pitch. He's a great manager and he has a great personality as well, in terms of how to manage players as well.

"Obviously, I've been with him in Leicester, and uniting with him here is a very good opportunity for me as well, so hopefully we'll see how it goes."

Iheanacho scored Celtic's goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw away to Red Star Belgrade.

"I'm happy playing at the European level again," he said. "I'm happy scoring in Europe and hopefully many more to come. I'm really excited.

"I always have a feeling that I was going to get back to European football. It's just for me to work my way up there and just believe that I'd get back there.

"I have a good impression about the Scottish league, I've been following it for a long time, so it's a great, great league."

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Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho aims to better his 19-goal haul at Leicester City in season 2020-21. (Sun), external

Iheanacho, 28, believes Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers can help him recapture his best form. (Herald - subscription required), external

Hibernian midfielder Jamie McGrath aims to get close to Celtic captain Callum McGregor when the sides meet on Saturday but admits it's "easier said than done". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Reo Hatate has a tight hamstring and will be assessed by Celtic.

Anthony Ralston is available again following a foot injury, having been on the bench against Red Star Belgrade in midweek. Auston Trusty returned to the training group on Friday after recovering from his foot problem, while Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Jota (knee) remain out.

Hibernian are still without Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (ankle) and Alasana Manneh (hamstring).

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he needs to "juggle" his attack to find the best combinations available.

Rodgers has spoken about how he wanted and expected further frontline additions in the summer, as well as how Japan forward Daizen Maeda wanted to leave the club.

Wingers Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti were signed, but both prefer to play on the left - Maeda's preferred side - while striker Kelechi Iheanacho arrived on a free.

Tounekti has impressed in his first few Celtic appearances, while Yang Hyun-Jun started on the right wing against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday.

Celtic's attack has failed to fire as it has previously under Rodgers, with just eight goals in five league matches so far.

"I think we have options," the Northern Irishman said, when asked if he sees Yang and James Forrest as the only options for the right flank.

"I think Daizen can play there. When I used to watch from the outside, he would have played on the right and Jota would have played off the left. So I think I can use that as a possibility for sure.

"It was an area, of course, we wanted to reinforce. We weren't able to do it and I have to try and manage and find a way to juggle the balance in the team to still make us as penetrative and as attacking as we possibly can."

Balikwisha has failed to make the same impact as Tounekti in his fledgling Celtic career, but Rodgers is confident the former Belgium Under-21 international will come good.

On what Balikwisha, 24, needs to show his best form, Rodgers said: "Just time."

He added: "I think Sebastian's come in and just been fantastic. Sometimes that shines the torch on other players and everyone thinks that everyone should be like that. It's not always the case.

"For Bali, I don't think there's any doubt over time he'll prove his worth and show that.

"But I always say it's really difficult to - at the biggest clubs - judge players in that first year.

"But, like I say, we know his talent. He was scouted for a long time. There's enough evidence there and a great body of evidence by the recruitment team to show that he's a really gifted and talented player. So, in time, I'm pretty sure he will show that."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match against Hibs on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• Rodgers says Celtic showed "good spirit" and "resilience" in Belgrade as they drew 1-1 against Red Star in the Europa League opener on Wednesday.

• The balance of his squad "isn't as natural" as it was last season and there are "challenges" to fill the gaps that exist.

• On Daizen Maeda, Rodgers says "you can't underestimate how difficult it has been for him". He adds the Japan forward, who was denied a summer exit, has given everything for Celtic and will discover his best form.

• Celtic are prepared for a tough game against a "well-organised" Hibs side.

• Rodgers will "manage" Colby Donovan after the academy product broke into the first team. Rodgers says Donovan, 19, was "like a duck to water" in Belgrade and thinks Celtic have "gained a player".

• Rodgers says Kelechi Iheanacho will "only get better" for Celtic and insists he was the "standout player" available this summer. The Celtic support will come to love him for his "humility, hard work and his quality".

• On Celtic's wide options, Rodgers says he has to "find a way" to make "us as penetrative as I possibly can".

• Rodgers says he is sure the board are looking at ways to "better communicate" with supporters.

• He says there have been no fresh talks over a new contract with his current deal due to expire next summer.

• Team news: Reo Hatate is a doubt with a tight hamstring, but he is the only new injury concern. Anthony Ralston is available and Auston Trusty has returned to team training.

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Captain Callum McGregor says the hard-fought draw at Red Star Belgrade in Celtic's Europa League opener provides "belief again" as they strive for further improvement.

Following the disappointment of their Champions League play-off defeat to Kairat Almaty last month, Brendan Rodgers' kicked off their Europa campaign with a point as Kelechi Iheanacho's opener in Serbia was cancelled out by Marko Arnautovic.

Celtic host Hibs in the Premiership on Saturday before welcoming Braga to Parkhead for the next European test next Thursday.

"It's not a bad result when you think about the circumstances of coming to Belgrade and being away from home in the first game," midfielder McGregor said.

"Hopefully that gives us a good platform moving forward and gives the team belief again that we can come to a place like this and control the game and come away with a point.

"It's always important to get points as early as you can. Coming here as a relatively new team, it was a good template of how we want to work. We'll get better as the games go but I think as a starting point it was pretty good.

"Hopefully we'll grow in belief and get better as the games go on. We've got eight games to qualify for the next round and that's where we want to be."

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• Seven of Celtic's eight Premiership goals this season have come in the second half (88%), the highest proportion of any side this term. Three have come in the final 15 minutes, with only Hearts (four) scoring more in that period.

• Celtic have won seven of their past eight games against Hibs in all competitions, losing the other 2-1 in February last season in the Scottish Premiership.

• Hibs are winless in 22 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L18) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010. Hibs have lost each of their past eight away games at Celtic, all by a 2+ goal margin.

• Celtic have lost just two of their past 84 home league games (W71 D11), and only one of their latest 31 (W27 D3), going down 3-2 to Rangers in March last season.

• Hibs have drawn six of their past seven league games (W1), drawing more games in the Scottish Premiership in 2025 than any other side (11). Indeed, with draws in each of their last four league games, they last drew five successive league matches in October 2019.

• Only Dundee United (nine) have recorded more fast breaks in the Scottish Premiership so far this season than Hibs (eight), while David Gray's side have scored twice from their six shots from those situations, more than any other team.

• Against Kilmarnock in their last league game, Celtic scored their third-latest winning goal (95:26) on Opta's records in the Scottish top flight (from 2013-14), after December 2021 v Ross County (96:06) and September 2023 v Motherwell (96:39).

• This game ends a run of five successive away fixtures for Celtic, their longest run of successive matches not played at home since November-December 2018 (also 5), and longest specifically in away matches (excluding neutral venues) since April-May 2003 (also five).

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Defender Stephen Welsh has told how he jumped at the chance to join Motherwell after being told he wouldn't get much game-time at Celtic this season as he eyes up a Scotland call-up in the future.

The centre-back made two appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side last term before heading out on loan to Belgian side KV Mechelen.

And with Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Carter-Vickers all ahead of him in the pecking order at Parkhead it didn't look like that was going to change this year.

"I knew that I wasn't going to be playing many games at Celtic, that was made clear," the 25-year-old said.

"So my priority was to go out and play as many games as I can."

Even though Welsh has two years left on his contract with the Scottish champions, the defender didn't take much persuading to join Jens Barthel Askou's side on loan.

"The style of play was a massive thing," he added.

"When I spoke to the manager he was big on the way they played. It's about the players that are on the pitch being brave enough to play and listen to what the manager is trying to get us to do. We believe if we stick to that philosophy, good things will come."

Welsh, who has started a couple of matches for the Steelmen since signing on loan at the start of September, is a former Scotland Under-21 captain, but hasn't been capped at full international level.

The defender was coy about the prospect of a call-up from Steve Clarke in the near future.

"That would be the biggest achievement of all, but I'm not thinking about it right now," he said.

"I think it's an old cliche in football terms but I'm going to take it one game at a time.

"Unfortunately I'm not allowed to play next week [against Celtic in the league] which is a bit of a blow.

"So the game against Aberdeen on Saturday is my last game before the next international break."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

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Genk match winner Oh Hyeon-gyu admits it was a "dream" to score at Ibrox against Rangers after his strike earned the visitors a 1-0 Europa League victory.

The former Celtic striker had an eventful evening on his return to Scotland, during which Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland saved his penalty, he somehow missed from eight yards when clean through, and had one ruled out for offside.

"It is one of my best, it was dream to score in Ibrox," said the forward, who scored 12 goals in 47 Celtic appearances a couple of seasons ago. "It's special for me."

The South Korean revealed his side came to Glasgow believing they could win despite lying 14th in the Belgian top flight.

"Yes, because we were preparing very well this week. We believe us, we believe our team, we believe our process, so we did it, we did very good."

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

The difference was stark when Kelechi Iheanacho took over from Daizen Maeda at half-time in Belgrade.

Iheanacho provided the focal point up front that Celtic sorely lacked in the first half of the Europa League opener where Maeda was miles below his best.

Within minutes of his introduction, Iheanacho had forced a fine save from goalkeeper Matheus before firing the visitors ahead with a brilliant touch and finish from Benjamin Nygren's pass.

Maeda departed the scene having touched the ball just seven times, including once in the Red Star box, in an ineffective 45 minutes. The Japan striker, whose wish to leave Celtic was thwarted in the summer, made just four passes and his only other contribution of note was being caught offside twice.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said: "He wasn't at his best, or nowhere near it. However, he's a good guy and sometimes that happens in the game.

"I could have made a couple of changes at half-time. I wanted to make that one certainly to give us that greater reference at the top of the pitch. I thought Kels coming in was very, very good for us.

"We needed someone centrally to hold the ball up. It's one of Kels' great strengths. So he gave us a much better platform in the second half."

Iheanacho provided a striking contrast, registering three shots - all on target - as well as 14 touches, three of which came in the hosts' box, and seven accurate passes out of eight, highlighting his link-up ability.

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady hailed the 28-year-old's performance as "outstanding", while ex-midfielder Stiliyan Petrov said he provided a "different dimension" to Celtic's play.

Iheanacho's arrival on a free earlier this month was somewhat underwhelming amid fan fury at Celtic's transfer window and Champions League failure.

But as the Nigeria international continues to build fitness, he is showing encouraging signs he is ready for the mantle of being Celtic's main striker.

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Colby Donovan says his approach is to play without fear after making his first European start in Celtic's 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade.

The 19-year-old had started the previous two games and kept his place for a fifth first-team appearance in the Europa League opener despite the return to fitness of Anthony Ralston.

"I just try and play no fear and have as much confidence as I can," Donovan said.

"I'm always ready. Having the manager's trust to put me in a game like this was great.

"My family were buzzing. I think they were more nervous than I was.

"I'm over the moon, such a hard place to come and get the point, and make my first European start, words can't describe it."

Manager Brendan Rodgers praised "outstanding" Donovan, adding: "He played with personality, composure and he has a toughness to him where he's not going to get beat easily."

Donovan said his role was made "so much easier" by the experienced players around him.

And team-mate Cameron Carter-Vickers said of Donovan: "Every game he's played so far this season, he's been great.

"Really just kind of took things in his stride, which is great to see and hopefully he keeps developing."

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Former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara on BBC Radio Scotland

It's good to get a point away from home. It was a hostile atmosphere and they've done well.

In the first half they weren't great, they had one chance at the end, Cameron Carter-Vickers. But I think a point in the end is a fair result.

Kelechi Iheanacho took his goal really well, his first touch and finish, and provided a focal point. Daizen Maeda has been a fantastic player for Celtic but in that nine role, his game is more in behind and you really needed somebody to hold the ball to allow the midfield to get up and support.

Ex-Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on BBC Sportsound

Both managers would probably be happy with the draw. But Celtic had some big, big chances and Brendan Rodgers would probably say Celtic should have won the game.

All in all, a good start to take them forward into this Europa League campaign now.

I've got to say, and I hold my hand up, Iheanacho was brilliant when he came on. He looked hungry, he looked fit.

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady on BBC Sportsound

It's an encouraging start in Europe, especially away from home.

That 20-minute period the team had at the start the second half, lots of chances, lots of good forward play, was really encouraging and it kind of goes back to the Celtic of last season.

The only downside is the fact Celtic conceded from a set-piece, lost the first contact, didn't react well in the second phase.

It's the kind of concentration of keeping the back door shut when Celtic were playing so well up to that point.

Ex-Hearts manager Robbie Neilson on BBC's Scottish football podcast

It was interesting reading Rodgers' comments with regards to where Celtic are at the moment as a club and probably Scottish football.

I actually think it's a good result out there. When you look at Red Star's start to the season, seven wins out of seven, it's a really, really difficult place to go. It's like a cauldron there.

Over the course of that league phase, it'll become a very, very good point.

Former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov on TNT Sports

Kasper Schmeichel could have held his position for the Red Star goal. That would give him a little bit more ability to react, to read that ball.

But I know goalkeepers make a decision in a split second and he probably decided that the ball won't bounce that far and he can go and block.

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Cameron Carter-Vickers admits he "probably should've scored" in Celtic's 1-1 Europa League draw with Red Star Belgrade.

Defender Carter-Vickers was off target with a first-half header before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho's 55th-minute opener was cancelled out by Red Star's Marko Arnautovic 10 minutes later.

"I probably should've scored, to be fair," Carter-Vickers said. "It kind of skimmed off my head.

"Overall, a point is probably a fair result. We had some good chances but they were dangerous on the counter and had some chances themselves.

"Defensively all season, we've been pretty solid, haven't conceded many goals so it's just about kind of taking that to the European level and going from there.

"We've got to take advantage of the home games and try and get maximum points in them and if we do that, it'll leave us in a good place."

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We asked for your views on Celtic's 1-1 draw away to Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League opener.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: Good second-half performance and well-taken goal. That said, Kelechi Iheanacho should have had a hat-trick as he had two easier chances in front of goal. Concern still lies over Liam Scales as he looks dodgy every attack and left his man at their goal. Really can't see what the manager sees in him. Would have taken a point before the game so can't be too disappointed but it could have been more.

Andrew: Kasper Schmeichel sold the goal, completely misjudged coming off his line.

Stephen: First half we created nothing. Second half we created some really good chances. Could've been four up before they scored. Positive second half, a great point. Let's build on it.

Al: Unsure why one of our best players - Paulo Bernardo - can't get into this team. The formation is stale and easy for opposing teams to read and snuff out. One plus was Celtic created a lot of chances to win and part of the reason they didn't take them was down to excellent goalkeeping with a smidgen of luck thrown in from their keeper.

Anthony: At face value a point was a decent result but the game itself highlighted the weaknesses in midfield and defence. Midfield have no pace and technical ability to break teams down while the defence can't be trusted to keep a clean sheet when we are winning. I fear we will be our after the group stages.

Darren: Great result for Celtic, they played well in the second half. Daizen Maada has left the team, his head is gone, so he needs to be sold soon.

Steven: Decent performance against a team who always score at home. Onwards and upwards. Time for Bernardo, Arne Engles and Maedea to shine. That plus Jota and Alistair Johnson's return will put us in a position of strength.

Paul: I thought Celtic deserved the point. Hard place to go but the Bhoys stuck to the task. Iheanacho took his goal well and looks good for a free signing. Would like to think we can go deep in the competition. Another Seville run would do nicely.

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• Celtic have conceded just three goals in 10 games in all competitions this season – their joint fewest in their opening 10 matches of a campaign, along with 1999-00 under John Barnes.

• Kieran Tierney made his first appearance in major European competition for Celtic since December 2018 against Red Bull Salzburg, six years and 285 days ago. Only Charlie Nicholas has ever had a longer gap between appearances in major European competitions for the club (8y 319d between Nov 1982 and Sep 1991).

• Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has now won just one of his past 17 European away matches (incl. qualifiers) in charge of the club (D7 L9), failing to win in any of his latest 11 since a 1-0 win against Rosenborg in the 2018-19 Europa League group stage in his first spell in charge.

• Kelechi Iheanacho has now scored on his Europa League debut for both Leicester City and Celtic, joining Obafemi Martins as the only other Nigerian to have scored on his Europa League debut for multiple clubs, with Martins netting for both Rubin Kazan and Levante.

• Callum McGregor made his 65th appearance in major European competitions for Celtic, moving him level with Robert Lennox. Only Billy McNeil (69) and Scott Brown (68) have made more appearances for the club in major European matches than him.

Former Celtic forward Chris Sutton sympathises with current club attacker Daizen Maeda after the Japan international was substituted at half-time of Wednesday's 1-1 draw away to Red Star Belgrade. (Sun), external

Ex-Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov was concerned by the visitors' first-half showing against Red Star. (Football Insider), external

Luis Palma, who is on loan at Lech Poznan from Celtic, scored, assisted and was sent off as the Polish side drew 2-2 with Rakow Czestochowa. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Celtic battled their way to a deserved point in their Europa League campaign opener with an evenly matched Red Star Belgrade at the Marakana.

Have your say on the game.

Read the match report.