Chris Sutton captured the sentiments of many Celtic fans when he labelled the 0-0 draw against Dinamo Zagreb as a missed opportunity.
While Dinamo posed little threat to the Celtic goal, the Hoops’ dominance in possession—68%—didn’t translate into cutting-edge attacking play, with only one shot on target and a handful of close calls around the opposition’s goal.
For a team that has struggled away from home in Europe, a draw in Zagreb still represents progress.
Until recently, the draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in September 2022 was the only point Celtic had managed on the road in two Champions League campaigns.
Back-to-back draws against Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb suggest signs of improvement.
The result in Italy was celebrated as a bonus, but with Dinamo missing key players and playing in a partially closed stadium, there was a belief among the Celtic faithful that this could have been the night to end their long wait for an away win in Europe’s elite competition.
Celtic now sit on nine points from six matches, well-positioned to reach the Round of 16. A win at home against YB Bern on January 22 would likely seal their progress before a tricky final group game away to Aston Villa.
Though squad rotation has impacted performances, Celtic remain solid. With only one defeat in domestic and European competition since mid-December and consecutive Champions League clean sheets, Brendan Rodgers’ side has plenty to build on heading into the new year.
