Celtic edge closer to qualification with valuable point
Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 0 Celtic
Celtic extended their unbeaten run in the Champions League to four matches, earning a valuable away point that leaves their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages firmly in their hands.
Brendan Rodgers' side now sit on nine points, with a home clash against Young Boys in January followed by a trip to Aston Villa. However, their wait for an elusive away victory in this competition continues – the last coming against Anderlecht under Rodgers seven years ago.
Facing a Dinamo Zagreb side plagued by injuries and struggling for form, Celtic sensed an opportunity and started brightly, dominating possession for long periods. Yet, they struggled to break down their resolute opponents.
In the first half, Celtic's best chance came from a 20-yard free-kick by Paulo Bernardo, which narrowly missed the target, despite the visitors enjoying nearly 70% possession.
Dinamo, defensively disciplined throughout, consistently shut down spaces and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Sandro Kulenovic had two golden opportunities to break the deadlock but fired one effort wide and squandered another clear-cut chance.
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After the break, the game opened up. Nicolas Kuhn created a promising moment for Celtic, cutting inside to test Maxime Bernauer, only for the Dinamo defender to make a crucial block.
Dinamo then responded with Martin Baturina forcing two saves, while Kyogo came close for Celtic, with Cameron Carter-Vickers unable to capitalise on the resulting loose ball.
The hosts nearly snatched victory late on when Marko Pjaca’s header looked destined for the net, but Kasper Schmeichel produced a stunning save to tip it over the bar, ensuring Celtic left with a hard-earned point.
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Celtic fan analysis
A good point for Celtic?https://t.co/SoSZpMSySX https://t.co/z0Pm2uA7j6
— European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) December 10, 2024
Some might argue that only managing a draw represents a missed opportunity, but I’d say that’s a bit harsh. It’s still a point away in the Champions League – something that’s never been a given for us. Young Boys are up next, presenting a fantastic opportunity for us to secure a win and progress to the next stage, whether that’s the last 16 or a play-off.
We spoke with Claire after the match who agreed with this. She said: "Going four games unbeaten at this level is no small feat, and you’d think Brendan Rodgers will be content with that.
"Before the match, this felt like a genuine opportunity to finally secure that elusive away win. In the first half, it seemed even more likely, though we didn’t create enough chances despite dominating possession against Dinamo Zagreb. In the end, it was a game that could have gone either way. Back-to-back clean sheets on the road are a solid achievement, and the big chance now lies ahead in January when we face Young Boys at Celtic Park. Progression is well within our reach."
