Celtic secure valuable point against Dinamo Zagreb in draw

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Zagreb

Celtic stretched their unbeaten Champions League run to four matches after securing another valuable away point against Dinamo Zargreb to leave progression to the latter stages in their grasp.

Brendan Rodgers' side have now accumulated nine points, with a home tie against Young Boys to follow in January, followed by a trip to Aston Villa.

Their search for an elusive away win in this competition goes on, though, the last being against Anderlecht under Rodgers seven years ago.

Against a Zagreb side struggling for form and hampered by an injury avalanche, Celtic sensed an opportunity and started confidently, controlling the ball for long spells, but they just could not open up their opponents.

In the first half, they only had a 20-yard Paulo Bernardo free kick that sailed narrowly over to show for their efforts, despite close to 70% possession.

Dinamo were defensively disciplined, constantly closing spaces that Celtic looked to exploit and make it count on the counter.

That script ought to have played out when Sandra Kulenovic found himself in space in the box, but he sent the ball woefully wide before missing another gilt-edged chance.

After the break, the tempo from both sides increased and space opened up.

Nicolas Kuhn cut inside and took on Maxime Bernauer, but the defender got in a great block to send the ball behind.

Dinamo responded, with Martin Baturina twice denied before Kyogo almost nipped in from close range and Carter-Vickers could not convert the loose ball.

It was the hosts who came closest late on. Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly denied Marko Pjaca, whose header appeared to be creeping under the bar before the Dane got a fabulous touch over to secure another welcome point.

Celtic edge closer to goal with valuable point

SNS

Celtic came into this fixture knowing three points all but guaranteed progress to the latter stages of the Champions League.

Their haul of one remains of good value, extending their unbeaten run and leaving progression very much there for the taking. They are clearly evolving at this level, given the points tally keeps ticking on.

The only slight frustration might be the lack of direct threat, especially having had so much of the ball in the opening half.

It felt like a game they had a real chance of winning at that stage.

With that home fixture to come against Young Boys in January, they will turn their attention to the Scottish League Cup final against Rangers at Hampden on Sunday.

Dinamo dogged under pressure

Dinamo had struggled for form in the run-up and met fan fury after their last match.

Despite that, the seven points they gathered prior to this suggested they are more than capable at this level.

They had only 15 fit senior players available and initially looked to contain and make it count when chances arrived. A couple did but they were wasteful when the chance to inflict damage was there.

Their urgency increased but their winless run continues, albeit they may have taken this point pre-match such were the circumstances.

With a more than respectable eight-point tally they now face a tough task to progress with tough tests to follow against Arsenal and AC Milan.

What they said

'Disappointment at draw shows Celtic progress' - Rodgers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "The positive is we didn't concede. I thought we lacked quality in the final third. The pitch was a little bit tricky.

"We had great energy, good commitment. In the Champions League, if you get a clean sheet and take a point away from home and you're not very happy, that shows how the team has progressed."

Match stats

  • Celtic (W1 D3) have gone four consecutive Champions League/European Cup matches without defeat for the first time since October 1986.

  • Dinamo remain unbeaten at home against Scottish opposition, although this was the first time they've failed to beat such opposition at home (P6 W5 D1).

  • Celtic have had more than one goalless draw (v Atalanta in October and Dinamo here) in a Champions League campaign for the first time.

  • Dinamo have lost just one of their last five Champions League matches (W2 D2), having lost five of their previous six before that (D1).

  • With an average age of 28 years and 1 day, Celtic named their oldest starting XI for a Champions League game since a 1-0 win over Manchester United in November 2006 (28y 272d).

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