Celtic displayed immense resilience to secure a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in Bergamo, earning a valuable point in the UEFA Champions League. Coming off the back of a humbling 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their previous European outing, Brendan Rodgers’ side showed defensive steel to frustrate the Europa League champions.
Atalanta started brightly, dominating possession and creating dangerous opportunities early on. Mario Pasalic saw his header crash against the bar in the 18th minute, while Kasper Schmeichel made crucial saves throughout the match, denying Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui before half-time. Celtic, however, managed to withstand the pressure, with Alistair Johnston and Auston Trusty putting in commanding defensive performances.
Celtic’s opportunities were few but promising. Arne Engels tested Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi with a curling effort, while Nicolas Kuhn used his pace to cause problems for the Atalanta defence on the counter. Though they saw less of the ball in the second half, Celtic’s defence stood firm, with Liam Scales and Trusty making key interventions as Atalanta sought a breakthrough.
Rodgers introduced Kyogo Furuhashi and Paulo Bernardo as the game wore on, and the Japanese striker came close to scoring in the 77th minute, his lobbed effort landing just on the roof of the net. Despite a late push from Atalanta, Celtic held on to secure their first Champions League clean sheet in seven years.
The result is a significant step forward for Celtic. With four points from three games, the Hoops now face back-to-back home fixtures against RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, keeping their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages very much alive.
Rodgers praised his side's defensive commitment, noting how the disappointment in Dortmund spurred them on to produce a more compact and organized performance. “After Dortmund, we didn’t want that again,” Rodgers reflected. “It was a brilliant defensive performance today, and we’ve taken a great step forward.”
