Celtic earn worthwhile level in knockouts chase with Dinamo Zagreb draw

Celtic earned a worthwhile level within the UEFA Champions League away at Dinamo Zagreb courtesy of a 0-0 draw at Stadion Maksimir.

Celtic got here into this match on a 10-match winless run away from residence within the UEFA Champions League, with their final victory on the highway coming again in August 2017 in opposition to Anderlecht, and have been trying to discover the elusive away win.

The Bhoys began the match properly, dominating the possession and settling right into a passing rhythm as they regarded to open up the hosts.

Brendan Rodgers’ facet continued to look spectacular in possession, however failed to interrupt down Dinamo Zagreb within the first half, with neither facet managing to register a single shot on track within the first interval.

Celtic had their first actual harmful effort after 50 minutes when Nicolas Kuhn did properly to get away from his man earlier than slicing inside from the right-hand facet and wrapping an effort in the direction of objective, which was deflected over the bar for a nook.

Dinamo Zagreb continued to develop into the match within the second half, getting ahead with tempo and attempting to penetrate the Celtic defence, and after 80 minutes, that they had an enormous alternative to take the lead. Marko Pjaca discovered house on the again publish to energy a header in the direction of objective, solely to see his effort tipped over brilliantly by Kasper Schmeichel.

Celtic had a large alternative to attain a late winner however have been denied by a chunk of sensible defending. The ball was fired in from the left-hand facet with Adam Idah poised to faucet residence from simply a few yards out, however Kevin Theophile-Catherine was readily available to slip in and clear the ball away.

The Bhoys stretch their unbeaten run within the Champions League to 4 matches and face Younger Boys at Celtic Park of their subsequent match within the competitors. Dinamo Zagreb, however, journey to the Emirates on matchday seven to face Arsenal.

Celtic made it 4 straight matches unbeaten within the UEFA Champions League tonight, however they could view this match as considerably of a missed alternative as their watch for an elusive away win the competitors goes on.

The Bhoys have now did not win any of their final 11 away matches within the Champions League (drawn three, misplaced eight), with their final such victory coming again in September 2017 – a 3-0 win over Belgian outfit Anderlecht.

There are causes to be constructive although. After six consecutive away defeats between October 2022 and October 2024, The Bhoys have prevented defeat in every of their final two on the highway, conserving a clear sheet in each (0-0 v Atalanta and 0-0 tonight). Their ultimate away match of the league section of the competitors comes on the finish of January, once they journey to Birmingham to face Aston Villa.

The Celtic defender was sensible tonight for his facet, making a sequence of necessary clearances, blocks and tackles all through the night. On the ball he was composed and environment friendly, finishing 106 of his 111 passes (95%) and total misplaced possession simply seven occasions. His aerial presence made it actually tough for Dinamo to create any actual hazard from crossing positions, with the American profitable 5 of his duels.

Dinamo: Zagorac 7, Ristovski 7, Bernauer 7, Theophile-Catherine 7, Pierre-Gabriel 7, Kacavenda 6, Rog 6, Spikic 6, Baturina 7, Pjaca 6, Kulenovic 7 Subs: Mbuku 6, Hoxha 6, Stojkovic 6

Celtic: Schmeichel 7, Taylor 7, Trusty 8, Carter-Vickers 7, Johnston 6, Bernardo 7, McGregor 7, Hatate 7, Maeda 6, Kyogo 6, Kuhn 6 Subs: Ralston 7, McCowan 6, Engels 6, Idah 6, Forrest 6

49’ A HUGE CHANCE FOR CELTIC – That’s by far Celtic’s greatest probability of the sport. Nicholas Kuhn cuts in from the right-hand facet onto his left foot however his effort is deflected over the bar. That regarded all of the world prefer it was going to be the opening objective for The Bhoys.

57’ A CHANCE FOR DINAMO! – Marko Pjaca with the most effective probability for Dinamo thus far – he does properly to offer himself a yard earlier than firing an effort in the direction of objective, however Auston Trusty will get in the way in which and the ball goes behind for a nook.

80’ A HUGE SAVE FROM SCHMEICHEL! – Ristovski fires in a terrific cross to the again publish and Pjaca is there to go an effort in the direction of objective, which Kasper Schmeichel ideas over the bar.

After conceding in 9 consecutive away matches within the Champions League, Celtic have now stored a clear sheet in back-to-back away matches within the competitors.