Celtic have a golden opportunity to enhance their top-eight prospects in the Champions League as they travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.
Brendan Rodgers and his side will be up against another team enjoying a rejuvenated European campaign.
Celtic’s journey in the competition has been turbulent. After shipping seven goals against Borussia Dortmund on matchday two, morale appeared shattered.
However, remarkably, that wasn’t even the heaviest defeat in this season’s competition. Dinamo Zagreb endured a brutal 9-0 loss to Bayern Munich on the opening matchday but have since staged an impressive recovery, collecting seven points—just one fewer than Celtic.
This turnaround underscores the benefits of the Champions League’s new format, which gives teams a chance to recover from early setbacks. The upcoming clash will be pivotal, with both sides aiming to stake their claim in the competition’s top eight.
Ally McCoist Praises Celtic’s Champions League Efforts
Former Rangers legend Ally McCoist has been closely observing Celtic’s performances this season.
Speaking on TNT Sport, McCoist was refreshingly honest in his assessment of their European campaign and domestic dominance, despite his loyalties lying elsewhere.
“Only if you weren’t telling the truth,” responded McCoist on Celtic doing alright in the Champions League whilst representing Scotland.
“The results have been great. The performance at home to Leipzig was as good as anything I have seen from Celtic in Europe in a long, long time.
“They are a good team. Very good team, by far and away, at this moment in time. Breaks my heart to say it, but you have got to be honest. By far and away the best team in the country,” McCoist stated.
“They had a good performance in Atalanta. They came away with a draw. Good result. After a really shocking result in Dortmund where they got taken to the cleaners. But they haven’t half recovered well.”
Rodgers’ ability to adapt has been key to Celtic’s resurgence. The heavy defeat in Dortmund prompted doubts about whether he could alter his approach against stronger opponents.
McCoist highlighted how the clean sheet in Italy against Atalanta, who are currently flying in Serie A, was a significant achievement.
“There were question marks over Celtic,” McCoist added.
“Could Brendan or would Brendan change the way Celtic played against teams who would technically perhaps be better than them and more fancied than them?
“And he did it, went over to Italy and got a great result. The game against Brugge was probably a little reminder. I wouldn’t say it was a wake-up call, but a reminder, at that level, you have to be at the top of your game all the time. They got a point at home against Brugge, which isn’t a disaster. Celtic have been very, very impressive this season, especially in Europe.”
Domestically, Celtic are in a commanding position. They lead the Premiership by nine points over second-placed Aberdeen and are 11 clear of Rangers.
This dominance has provided a foundation for their European exploits, allowing Rodgers and his players to focus on making their mark on the continent.
The upcoming encounter with Dinamo Zagreb represents another litmus test for Celtic’s ambitions. A victory would not only bolster their top-eight hopes but also serve as a statement of intent in what has been a season of resilience and improvement.
