Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Celtic: Hoops move closer to Champions League knockouts as wait for away win continues
Celtic moved a step closer to reaching the knockout rounds of the Champions League, but they are still searching for their first away victory following a scoreless draw against Dinamo Zagreb.
Brendan Rodgers' team hasn't secured an away victory since 2017, and they understood that breaking that streak would almost assure them a spot in the next round of Europe's top tournament.
In the first half, they controlled the ball but struggled to produce any significant scoring opportunities. It wasn't until just before halftime that Nicolas Kuhn had a chance thwarted by Danijel Zagorac.
After halftime, the home team showed more determination, with Kasper Schmeichel stopping shots from Martin Baturina and Marco Pjaca. Adam Idah seemed ready to score from Arne Engles' pass, but Kevin Theophile-Catherine made a crucial last-minute block to prevent the Celtic forward from finding the net.
Celtic has not lost any of their last four matches in the Champions League, accumulating nine points with two games remaining. Dinamo Zagreb is sitting one point behind them.
Celtic Moves Closer To Knockout Stage אחרי טמוקו
It wasn't unexpected to see centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers back in action, alongside midfielders Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate, and forward Kyogo Furuhashi. Additionally, captain Callum McGregor reached a milestone by playing his 100th match in Europe for Celtic.
The struggling home team, which had not won in their last five matches, kicked off the game just one point behind Celtic. However, the visiting team swiftly and confidently took charge of the match.
Nonetheless, opportunities were scarce and hard to come by.
In the 15th minute, Lukas Kacavenda touched the ball with his hand right at the edge of his penalty area, leading to a free-kick. Bernardo took the kick but sent it just over the crossbar.
At the 30-minute mark, Zagreb forward Sandro Kulenovic made a poor kick right in front of the goal, resulting in a missed opportunity. Soon after, goalkeeper Danijel Zagorac had to make a quick save at his near post against Hoops winger Nicolas Kuhn.
Following a quick counterattack from Zagreb just before the halftime whistle, Kulenovic had another chance but failed to score from about eight yards out. This opportunity came after Carter-Vickers lost his footing while trying to deal with a cross from Dario Spikic.
Celtic defender Anthony Ralston came on for Alistair Johnston at the beginning of the second half. Just a few minutes later, Kuhn's shot was deflected over the bar by Zagreb's Maxime Bernauer, resulting in a corner that didn't lead to anything.
The game continued to unfold. A blunder by Hoops' left-back Greg Taylor gave Martin Baturina a chance to shoot at the goal, but Schmeichel wasn’t overly concerned as the Zagreb midfielder shot wide once again shortly after the hour.
Rodgers responded quickly after that. He brought on Luke McCowan and Arne Engels, substituting Hatate and Bernardo. McCowan, the ex-Dundee player, let loose a powerful shot from outside the box, but Zagorac managed to stop it.
In the 80th minute, the home team came close to scoring once more, but Schmeichel pulled off an impressive save against Marko Pjaca's header from close range, resulting in a corner. The corner was cleared, leading both teams to accept a draw.
"We Could Have Done More"
Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers:
"That's my genuine opinion on the matter: we definitely should have taken further action."
"It was a chance for us, but we needed to demonstrate a bit more during those crucial times."
On the bright side, we left the game with a solid defensive performance, not allowing any goals. However, I believe we struggled with our execution in the attacking zone. The playing surface was somewhat challenging.
"We exhibited fantastic energy and showed strong dedication. In the Champions League, managing to secure a clean sheet and earning a draw on the road is usually something to celebrate. If we're not feeling particularly satisfied with that, it really indicates how far the team has come."
"It's a tough task. While my teams are often known for their offensive style, we also excel when we press at the right times and maintain a strong desire to keep our opponents from scoring."
"We had plenty of possession to generate more chances, but it's crucial to have that solid foundation as a team."
"This team is becoming more self-assured as they progress. The players put in their all."
"We realized we had to step up our game, and we’re aware of that. It’s all good. We see it as a chance for growth, but it’s important to put in that extra effort."
