Celtic moved closer to securing a place in the Champions League knockout stages but were held to a goalless draw by Dinamo Zagreb, extending their winless run away from home since 2017. A victory in this match would have virtually guaranteed their progression in the competition, but they were unable to break the deadlock despite dominating possession. The first half saw few clear chances, with Celtic having the better of the play, but the only notable opportunity came just before halftime when Nicolas Kuhn’s shot was saved by Zagreb goalkeeper Danijel Zagorac.
After the break, the hosts became more aggressive, with Kasper Schmeichel making key saves to deny Martin Baturina and Marco Pjaca. In the 67th minute, Adam Idah appeared set to score after receiving a ball from Arne Engles, but a last-ditch clearance from Kevin Theophile-Catherine thwarted him. Despite Celtic’s efforts, they struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances. They finished the match unbeaten in their last four Champions League games, with nine points and two matches remaining. Zagreb, who are one point behind, will need to secure better results in their final fixtures to stay in the hunt for a knockout spot.
Celtic made several changes to their lineup, including the return of key players such as Cameron Carter-Vickers, Paulo Bernardo, and Kyogo Furuhashi. Captain Callum McGregor also reached a milestone with his 100th European appearance for the club. Dinamo Zagreb, despite a series of injuries, had a solid start but lacked the clinical finishing required to challenge Celtic seriously.
Brendan Rodgers expressed disappointment at not securing a win, acknowledging the team’s defensive strength but admitting they needed to be more clinical in attack. He emphasized that a clean sheet and a point away from home in the Champions League showed Celtic’s progress but felt they missed an opportunity to take all three points. Despite this, he praised the team’s energy and commitment, noting that their general performance and confidence at this level continue to grow. The match statistics showed Celtic’s dominance in possession and passing, but they were unable to convert that into goals. The team will look to improve in their upcoming fixtures as they aim for progression in the competition.
