Celtic kept their first Champions League clean sheet for seven years as they held Europa League champions Atalanta to a goalless draw in Bergamo.
Brendan Rodgers set his team up to defend deep, keen to avoid a repeat of the 7-1 thrashing at Borussia Dortmund in their last European outing, but this game could have ended in similar fashion had Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic been more clinical.
Pasalic missed five big chances, a feat only four other players had managed in the Champions League since the 2010/11 season, four of those coming in the first half. The midfielder hit the target just once from his six efforts on goal.
Celtic were more comfortable in the second half, despite ceding even more possession to their hosts, in large part because they stopped the flow of crosses from former Chelsea wing-back Davide Zappacosta, who created all his four chances in the first half.
Rodgers’ side are now on four points after three games in the Champions League, which pushes them further away from the elimination places, while Atalanta have five points at the end of gameweek three, sitting just shy of automatic qualification.
Rodgers answers critics with big defensive display
Celtic had not kept a clean sheet in the Champions League since beating Anderlecht 3-0 in the group stages in 2017. It took a humbling at the hands of Dortmund to get them there.
Rodgers, who also oversaw that victory seven years ago, insisted before the game that Celtic’s devastating defeat was the result of a few early goals “spooking” his players. There was a sense that the criticism, and suggestions of naivety, had angered him.
The response from Celtic more than answered their critics and earned them a massive point in the context of keeping their hopes of Champions League progression alive.
Celtic learned their lessons and took a more practical approach, reducing their risk-taking in the build-up by starting Adam Idah up front, and playing a more direct brand of football.
Kasper Schmeichel played his part, becoming the first Celtic goalkeeper to make six saves and keep a clean sheet in the competition since 2003/04, while Auston Trusty was resolute at the back, making 10 headed clearances to keep Atalanta out.
Atalanta’s profligacy was, of course, partly behind Celtic keeping a clean sheet, but the Hoops worked for their luck against the top-scoring team in Italy. And Rodgers answered his critics.
