Celtic travelled to Stadion Maksimir with high hopes of edging closer to Champions League knockout qualification, but it was a night of missed opportunities and wasted possession, as the Hoops shared the spoils with Dinamo Zagreb in a goalless draw.
Both sides knew the stakes were high in this tightly contested game, but despite flashes of promise, neither could deliver the decisive blow. For Celtic, it was a story of possession without penetration, leaving fans wondering what might have been.
A Slow Start in Zagreb
The game began with Celtic asserting their dominance in possession, holding 63% of the ball in the first 10 minutes, but with little to show for it. Brendan Rodgers’ side looked composed in midfield, but the final ball was sorely lacking, allowing Dinamo to frustrate the Hoops.
Celtic’s first real chance came in the 17th minute, a free kick from Paulo Bernardo that narrowly cleared the crossbar. Yet, it wasn’t until the 58th minute that the game saw its first shot on target, a tame effort from Dinamo’s Martin Baturina, easily gathered by Kasper Schmeichel.
Flashes of Promise, but No End Product
The Hoops’ struggles in the final third continued into the second half. Arne Engels, introduced as a substitute, showed glimpses of his potential with direct running, but his efforts were met with resolute defending. Kyogo, usually a livewire up front, was starved of service, managing only five touches in the first half.
Celtic’s best chance came later in the game when substitute Luke McCowan fired a long-range effort on target, forcing Dinamo keeper Danijel Zagorac into a sharp save. But even with 72% possession in the second half, Celtic lacked the cutting edge needed to secure all three points.
Key Moments That Could’ve Changed the Game
The match wasn’t without its moments of drama. Anthony Ralston’s overhit cross in the 67th minute summed up Celtic’s inability to capitalise on promising counter attacks. Auston Trusty, however, earned plaudits for his defensive display, with a crucial block to deny Dinamo’s Marko Pjaca in the 57th minute.
Celtic came agonisingly close to a breakthrough when Adam Idah looked certain to tap in from an Arne Engels cross. The move started with a clever reverse pass from James Forrest to Engels, whose first-time delivery seemed destined to find Idah. But Dinamo’s Kevin Theophile-Catherine produced a last-ditch intervention to deny the striker a certain goal, epitomising Celtic’s night of near misses.
With Dinamo sitting deep and looking to hit on the counter, Celtic’s inability to find a creative spark ultimately left them frustrated. Even when space began to open up late in the game, the final ball too often let them down.
What This Result Means for Celtic
A point away from home in the Champions League is never a bad result, but with tougher fixtures looming, this was a missed opportunity for Celtic to take a step closer to play-off qualification.
The new Champions League format leaves little margin for error, and with only a few matches remaining, Brendan Rodgers’ men must convert their dominance in possession into meaningful goals.
Currently, Celtic will likely need to win both of their remaining fixtures to contend for a place in the top 8 and secure direct qualification for the knockout stages. However, they need just one more point to reach the 10-point mark, which virtually guarantees a spot in the top 24 and a place in the playoff round.
