Celtic battled to a goalless draw against Atalanta on Wednesday night, weathering both relentless pressure and rainy conditions at the Gewiss Stadium to secure a valuable Champions League point.
The star of the show for the visitors was Kasper Schmeichel, with the veteran Danish goalkeeper producing a string of fine saves, especially during a frantic first half.
Atalanta struggled to convert their opportunities, leaving Celtic to return to Glasgow with a point they fought tooth and nail to earn.
Atalanta’s wastefulness in front of goal, combined with Schmeichel’s heroics, ensured the Serie A side’s frustration.
Celtic’s defensive resilience provided the perfect response to their 7-1 mauling at Borussia Dortmund in their previous European outing, restoring some pride and boosting their chances of progression.
The draw moves Celtic to four points, placing them 18th in the Champions League’s single-league table, just one point behind Atalanta, who remain unbeaten in 12th.
The Hoops are now in a strong position to qualify for the play-off stages, with tougher assignments behind them.
Reflecting on the game, Atalanta’s Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic admitted that Schmeichel’s brilliance denied them victory.
“We had several chances but we came up against Kasper Schmeichel, and unfortunately, we couldn’t break his resistance,” he said.
Pasalic expressed disappointment at the result but took positives from his side’s defensive solidity.
“We have to accept this draw, even if it’s a bit frustrating. We defended very well, without taking any big risks. The positive aspect is that for the third consecutive game, we did not concede.
“This is a good starting point. If we had scored, however, the game would have changed completely.”
Brazilian playmaker Ederson echoed Pasalic’s sentiments, lamenting their failure to convert dominance into goals.
“Sometimes it happens that you dominate a match without managing to score,” he remarked.
“There are games in which you do less and win. We played well—of course, we are disappointed not to score, but the point is important.”
Celtic will take confidence from this disciplined display as they continue their Champions League campaign, knowing that such performances could carry them into the tournament’s next phase.