Atalanta vs Celtic result: Brendan Rodgers’ team dig in for precious point
Schmeichel Shares Insights On Tonight's Role
When you face a team that matches up player for player like they do, I will often find myself as the unmarked player. My goal is to create openings; if one of their players comes to me, that means there's an unguarded player elsewhere. This puts pressure on the goalkeeper to think outside the box—sometimes it pays off, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Rewinding Time: A Journey Backward
FT: Atalanta And Celtic End In 0-0 Draw
Celtic had to rely on a bit of luck, particularly during the first half, but they achieved a great result. With this draw, they now have four points, and they'll be facing RB Leipzig and Club Brugge at home next. Scales and Trusty were outstanding in defense, working well together to stop several dangerous cross attempts. Pasalic might feel he missed a chance to secure the win for Atalanta, who now have five points and find themselves outside the top eight.
"Atalanta 0, Celtic 0: A 94-Minute Stalemate"
Atalanta earns a corner as the match moves past the 94-minute mark. Samardzic is set to take the kick from the right with his left foot, delivering an inswinger... but Scales and Valle work together to clear the ball away. That should be the end of the action.
Atalanta 0, Celtic 0: A 93-Minute Stalemate
After the free kick hit the wall, Atalanta earned another one in a similar spot. They really should focus on creating a crossing opportunity instead of attempting a shot from this distance, right?
Scales leaps high to meet a cross at the back post and wins a strong header. Ruggeri then sends the ball into the penalty area, but Hein heads it over the goal. There’s just one more minute for Celtic to hold on.
Atalanta And Celtic End In 0-0 Stalemate
Four minutes of stoppage time will be played. Zaniolo pressures Scales into making a blunder after he misreads a long pass, resulting in a free-kick for Atalanta, situated about 30 yards from the Celtic goal.
Atalanta And Celtic End 0-0 After 88 Minutes
Celtic's right-back Johnston is struggling with cramp, but Atalanta has earned a corner kick. Samardzic takes the corner, but it’s another weak cross that Trusty manages to clear away. Bernardo steps up to defend against Hein effectively, helping Celtic regain possession with a throw-in in their own half. Johnston is on the ground again, clearly affected by cramp, and it looks like he will be substituted soon.
86 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Draw 0-0
Following an energetic burst from Kyogo, Celtic finds themselves lacking options, with every player positioned deep in their own half. Samardzic attempts a curling cross, but it’s overhit and sails past, resulting in a goal kick for Celtic. Atalanta appears to be struggling to make an impact.
Atalanta And Celtic Stalemate At 0-0 After 83 Minutes
Samardzic misplaces a pass, causing another Atalanta offensive attempt to falter. Celtic is organized, maintaining a solid defensive formation with plenty of players positioned behind the ball. The Celtic players are beginning to glance at the clock.
81 Minutes: Atalanta 0, Celtic 0
De Ketelaere attempts a bold backheel pass to Zappacosta. Scales hits the ground after taking a blow to the head, allowing Celtic to waste a bit of time. In a separate substitution, Forrest replaces Kuhn.
79 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless
Atalanta has made two additional substitutions: Zaniolo and Ruggeri have replaced Pasilic and Kolasinac. It seems like Celtic has managed to get through the toughest part of the match. Atalanta appears to have lost some of their earlier energy and enthusiasm.
77 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless
Scales stepped up with an impressive effort to regain possession just as Celtic seemed vulnerable following a loss of the ball.
The substitutions for Celtic have definitely had a positive impact. Kyogo made a dash past the defenders, receiving a long pass from Palma. The striker attempted an ambitious volley right away, but it sailed over the crossbar.
"74 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Tie 0-0"
Kyogo will be frustrated with himself; he had the 36-year-old Cuadrado in a tough spot near the corner of the penalty area but gave him a clear chance to take the ball. Celtic makes two more substitutions: Maeda and Engels leave the pitch while Palma and McCowan come on. It’s McCowan’s first appearance in a European match.
Atalanta Vs. Celtic: 72 Minutes, 0-0 Draw
Valle made a careless error in the middle of the field, allowing Atalanta to launch a counter-attack. Zappacosta followed up with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but he sent it just past the near post. Celtic managed to maintain their clean sheet.
70 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless
Kyogo believed he had created Celtic's biggest opportunity of the match when he spun around and took a shot following a quick attack led by Maeda. However, the offside flag was raised. Celtic possesses a lot of speed in their forward positions; they simply require a precise pass and a perfectly timed run to capitalize.
68 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Are Scoreless
Rodgers is making a double substitution: Idah and Hatate are leaving the field, and in their place come Kyogo and Bernardo. Idah struggled to get involved in the game, as Hein was able to outmuscle him.
66 Minutes: Atalanta 0, Celtic 0
Atalanta is still looking for opportunities near the Celtic goal, predominantly channeling their attacks down the right side since bringing De Ketelaere onto the field. However, Celtic consistently has a defender ready to intervene and clear the ball. Their dedication to the gritty aspects of the game is evident tonight. Schmeichel makes a solid save, comfortably catching De Ketelaere's shot aimed across goal.
62 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless
Lookman skillfully navigates through the Celtic penalty area, but Trusty manages to block the shot effectively. The home supporters are beginning to express their frustration due to their inability to convert their chances despite dominating the play.
58 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Still Tied
De Roon took a shot from 25 yards out, and Schmeichel dove to his left to deflect it away. Celtic's players must be feeling the strain as they try to withstand the mounting pressure.
Atalanta is making two substitutions: Retegui and Bellanova are leaving the field, while De Ketelaere and Samardzic are being brought on.
Atalanta And Celtic Locked At 0-0 After 55 Minutes
Atalanta earned a corner thanks to Scales' solid defensive work. Hein managed to get his head on the ball first, but his effort lacked power and went wide of the far post.
Celtic moves to the opposite side and earns a corner for themselves, as Kuhn puts pressure on Kolasinac in a head-to-head situation.
"53 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Scoreless"
Celtic's defense was again put to the test in their six-yard area, with Trusty and Johnston stepping up. However, Atalanta is finding too many gaps and reaching the byline with ease. It seems inevitable that a player in blue and black will soon score from close range.
Atalanta Vs. Celtic: Scoreless At 51 Minutes
Celtic nearly scores despite not having much momentum, as Valle takes a long-range shot that gets deflected. Carnesecchi manages to tip it over the crossbar. This is the first significant save the Atalanta goalkeeper has had to make in the match so far.
Atalanta Vs. Celtic: Goalless At 49 Minutes
Scales made a fantastic last-minute defensive play to intercept Lookman's dangerous low cross. Kolasinac delivered a nice pass that slipped between the full-back and centre-back, allowing Lookman to break free. Meanwhile, Pasalic directed yet another header just off-target. Celtic is struggling to keep up with his runs.
47 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Still Goalless
Atalanta dominated the Celtic half at the start of the second half. Zappacosta and Kolasinac, who had lackluster spells in the Premier League with Chelsea and Arsenal, have thrived under Atalanta's system. They work well in a back-three formation.
We're Back On Track!
Can Celtic withstand the pressure or potentially strike back?
Players Return For The Second Half
It appears that neither Gasperini nor Rodgers have made any adjustments. Atalanta is on the field much earlier than Celtic, possibly to keep the Italians waiting. The crowd responds with some boos directed at the Celtic players in their green and white uniforms.
Atalanta And Celtic End In Scoreless Draw
Celtic's half-time result is decent, but it hasn't been an easy match. Atalanta has squandered a couple of solid opportunities to take the lead, and their coach, Gasperini, is clearly getting frustrated with their miss opportunities. Pasalic could have easily scored three goals with his headers.
Celtic find themselves in a tricky situation. Their greatest strength is their speed in counter-attacks, but this direct approach means that the ball often returns quickly to their end. They require their forwards to maintain possession and fend off defenders effectively.
"44 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless"
Celtic managed to hold on as the first half came to a close, with Pasalic once again attempting to score with a header from a cross. However, Schmeichel was ready and made a great save, allowing Celtic to clear the ball. Zappacosta came in with another offensive push shortly after, but Trusty was on hand to head the ball away.
41 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Tied 0-0
Atalanta's goalkeeper Carnesecchi confidently catches a low cross from Maeda. However, this brief moment of relief for Celtic is short-lived as they find themselves defending again. Meanwhile, Bellanova lets the ball slip out of bounds.
Atalanta And Celtic: Scoreless At 39 Minutes
Celtic is really feeling the heat right now, with all their outfield players packed into their own defensive area. The way Atalanta's defender, Djimsiti, confidently charged into the box to intercept a cross shows just how much control Atalanta has at this moment.
Atalanta Vs. Celtic: 0-0 After 37 Minutes
Pasalic is, once more, the Atalanta player making strides into the Celtic box with his forward runs from the midfield. However, his angled header goes over the crossbar. Once again, the assist came from Zappacosta, who delivered a right-footed cross from the left.
33 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless
Swedish defender Isak Hien is having an outstanding match. At times, Atalanta is relying on him to handle the defense all on his own, and he successfully intercepted Maeda's run when Celtic attempted to launch an attack from deep in their own half.
31 Minutes In: Atalanta Vs. Celtic - 0-0
Atalanta's midfielder Ederson is tracking Hatate's movements all the way to the center-back area. This creates an opening for Celtic to make forward passes, but Ederson manages to reach the ball first, drawing a foul from Hatate. Meanwhile, Lookman attempts to make his way into the box, but Schmeichel is quick to come off his line and gather the ball.
Atalanta And Celtic: Scoreless After 29 Minutes
Celtic almost had a chance on the counterattack, but Engels’ pass was too strong for Maeda to handle. Atalanta tried to push forward again, but Bellanova’s cross went directly into Schmeichel’s hands.
Atalanta 0, Celtic 0: 27 Minutes In
Celtic's defense seems to be under pressure. Retegui maneuvered the ball through the box, but De Roon's shot from the edge was off target and went up high. Scales deflected it out for a corner in favor of Atalanta. The Italian team is sending six or seven players into the Celtic area. However, Lookman's cross was weak and couldn't get past McGregor.
24 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Still Scoreless
Celtic had another encouraging chance when Engels cut back onto his right foot and unleashed a shot from 25 yards out. The goalkeeper, Carnesecchi, had to stretch to his left to deflect the ball away.
Pasalic misses another obvious opportunity for Atalanta. Lookman and Zappacosta did well to set up the play, and after a precise pass back, Pasalic took a shot that, despite having little pressure, went directly to Schmeichel.
21 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic 0-0
Maeda made a quick turn to get past the Atalanta defense while pursuing a long pass, earning Celtic a corner kick. When it comes to physical confrontations, Celtic doesn't stand out too much, and after a defensive header that sent the ball high into the air, Carnesecchi managed to punch it away.
18 Minutes: Atalanta And Celtic Tied 0-0
Celtic faced their first major defensive challenge, but they managed to hold on. Zappacosta made a move from the left wing-back position and sent in a right-footed cross, which Pasalic headed onto the crossbar. The ball then went over the net. Moments earlier, Gasperini was criticizing his squad for not being calm enough and for their poor ball control.
14 Minutes In: Atalanta 0, Celtic 0
Atalanta poses a danger as a cross just misses Retegui’s feet at the far post while Scales is caught out of position. The forward then links up nicely with Lookman, but after their quick exchange near the box, Lookman’s shot goes directly into Schmeichel’s hands.
12 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Draw 0-0
Celtic has adopted a 4-4-2 defensive formation, choosing carefully when to apply pressure on Atalanta's defenders while they have the ball. Rodgers is likely satisfied with the strong defensive performance they've demonstrated up to this point. Scales attempts a risky pass across the midfield, but Ederson intercepts it.
Palestine Flags Wave At Celtic's End
Atalanta Vs. Celtic: 0-0 After 9 Minutes
Atalanta's goalkeeper, Carnesecchi, effectively cleared the ball after a long pass forward from Schmeichel, managing to support the team's high defensive line.
Celtic's right-back Johnstone made a reckless move against Zappacosta, resulting in a yellow card and a free-kick awarded in a threatening spot for a cross.
Celtic is on the defense, but Kuhn uses his speed to break free from his defender and charge into the penalty area during a counter-attack. Thankfully, midfielder Ederson makes a great effort to eliminate the threat.
Atalanta And Celtic: Scoreless After 7 Minutes
Kuhn must improve at keeping possession when facing away from the goal. Kolasinac pressured him, leading to an error. Lookman made a great switch from the left side to the right as Atalanta aimed to challenge Celtic's defense with crosses. Bellanova managed to get his head on the ball at the back post, but it didn’t have enough force to worry Schmeichel.
"5 Minutes In: Atalanta And Celtic Goalless"
Retegui has been quite active so far, getting on the ball in some promising positions. Celtic are doing a good job moving the ball through the midfield, but Maeda struggled with his control, causing the ball to slip away from him along the left side. Defensively, Celtic appears solid at this stage, but they need to work on maintaining possession in the attacking area.
Atalanta And Celtic: Scoreless After 2 Minutes
Hatate made a premature mistake in the midfield, but Atalanta's forward Retegui sent in a cross that was too powerful. Schmeichel aimed to find Idah with a long ball right from the start, attempting to get around Atalanta's tight marking. Maeda effectively pressured Djimsiti, but the ball ended up going out for an Atalanta goal kick.
Celtic starts the match, dressed in their standard home uniform, but this time featuring simple white socks.
The Players Have Emerged From The Tunnel
It seems that the rain has finally eased up, but the field will likely be quite lively. The big question for Celtic is if they can strike a balance between being a strong attacking team while also maintaining a solid defense.
Rodgers Defends His Coaching On TNT
If you caught the match last night, Dortmund allowed five goals in the second half. At this competitive level, games can quickly turn against you. The 7-1 loss in Dortmund was tough for us to swallow, but our team is genuinely dedicated and ready to challenge Atalanta.
Atalanta plays a tough and highly competitive style of football. Sometimes, you'll need to navigate their intense pressing to reach your forward player. Expect plenty of individual battles on the field.
People often talk about strategy in sports. For us, every match starts with a focus on strong defense. In our game against Dortmund, we gave up some quick goals that rattled us, as we weren't tight enough in our formation.
In every match, we aim to maintain a solid formation. This might involve pressing aggressively upfront at times, while at other moments, we focus on staying tight in the middle or even in our own defensive area.
This isn't a game of chance like Russian roulette! If that were my coaching style, I wouldn't be very smart or in the position I am today.
Gasperini's squad currently sits in sixth place, having secured only four victories in their first eight matches. However, according to expected goals, they boast the most potent offense in Serie A. Their defense, on the other hand, isn't as strong, suggesting we can anticipate a high-scoring match. I believe Celtic's best opportunity lies in utilizing Kuhn and Maeda to exploit the flanks of Atalanta's three-man defense.
Rodgers Urges Celtic To Be Balanced Yet Aggressive
Let me tell you, I began my coaching journey more than 25 years ago, and from day one, I’ve adopted an assertive approach. I plan to continue that way until the very end—it's just how I operate.
I also understand that when you compete against teams of a specific caliber, it’s important to consider their strengths carefully.
However, don't claim that I don't approach every match this way. I absolutely do, regardless of the team we're up against, be it in Scotland or during the Champions League.
It's the point where you can face consequences for your actions. You need to maintain balance in your gameplay and ensure that your defense is solid.
There will be times when you can play aggressively and push up the field, and other times when you need to fall back closer to your own goal. The important takeaway for us is that during those moments, it's essential to work together rather than trying to handle things alone.
Atalanta: Players And Substitutes Overview
Atalanta Starting Lineup: Carnesecchi, Hien, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Bellanova, de Roon, Ederson Silva, Zappacosta, Pasalic, Lookman, and Retegui.
Substitutes: Rui Patricio, Rossi, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Zaniolo, De Ketelaere, Ruggeri, Samardzic, Palestra, Manzoni, Vlahovic, Del Lungo
A Rainy Evening In Bergamo
I recall Carlton Cole mentioning that the weather during the 2023 Conference League final in Prague could benefit West Ham in their matchup against Fiorentina, as he pointed out that "they don't experience storms in Italy." Considering the outcome of the game, he might have had a valid point.
Celtic Team And Substitutes Overview
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Ademola Lookman Almost Joined Celtic
Good evening and thanks for joining our live updates as Celtic takes on Atalanta in the Champions League. So far, the team has experienced two very different matches in this revamped league format. Brendan Rodgers' squad kicked things off with a commanding 5-1 victory against Slovan Bratislava at home, only to face a tough 7-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in their next outing.
Celtic faced a challenging match over the weekend, finishing in a 2-2 tie with Aberdeen at Parkhead. This result puts both teams at 22 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Celtic still holds the top position in the league, thanks to a better goal difference.
Tonight’s match in Bergamo against the previous season’s Europa League champions is set to be a challenging encounter. Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad employs an intense, man-to-man marking strategy, making it tough for teams unfamiliar with their style to handle.
Atalanta currently sits with four points from their two Champions League games. They secured a strong victory against Shakhtar Donetsk and managed to earn a respectable draw at home against Arsenal, where they almost claimed all three points but missed a penalty.
Ademola Lookman is one of their key attacking players. Rodgers mentioned that Lookman nearly signed with him when he was managing Celtic for the first time.
The winger reached an agreement on personal terms for a transfer from Charlton, but Everton offered more than Celtic, securing a reported £11 million deal in January 2017.
During the 2021-22 season, while managing Leicester, Rodgers had the opportunity to work with Lookman again on loan from RB Leipzig. However, once more, his team couldn't manage to secure a permanent deal for him.
Instead, he alerted Lee Congerton, the former scout for Celtic, who was working at Atalanta at that time. The Nigeria-born player, who grew up in England, is set to compete against Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday. His visibility has increased thanks to his impressive hat-trick performance in the Europa League final last season.
Rodgers mentioned, "Ademola was someone we kept an eye on during my initial stint at Celtic."
I encountered him at a hotel in London as we aimed to persuade him to join us. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet the terms that Charlton was seeking for him, but the club had made every effort possible at that moment.
"He was eager to become a part of a prominent team and experience the challenges and motivations that attract players to Celtic."
Charlton was clearly aiming to maximize what they could get for him. We had conversations with him on a personal level. The transfer was beneficial for him and his agents, and he communicated that clearly.
"But clearly, it was the financial aspect that mattered in the end; he moved to Everton, and it simply slipped through our fingers."
Updates about the team are coming soon.
