Celtic Hold Firm to Earn Valuable Point in Goalless Draw Against Atalanta

Celtic delivered a resolute defensive performance to secure a vital point in a 0-0 draw against last season’s Europa League champions, Atalanta, in Bergamo. The Scottish champions, who had lost all seven of their previous matches in Italy in the Champions League, defied history and immense pressure from the Serie A side to stay firmly in contention for the knockout stages.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was instrumental in keeping Celtic in the game, making a string of crucial saves, while Atalanta squandered several clear chances. Despite dominating much of the play and bombarding Celtic’s defense with crosses, Atalanta struggled to break down the determined Scottish side.

Celtic’s result comes as a significant boost after their earlier group-stage experiences, where they enjoyed a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava but were humiliated 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund. This draw marks only their second-ever away clean sheet in the competition, a testament to their improved defensive organization.

Atalanta’s strategy to exploit Celtic’s vulnerability to crosses was clear, but the visitors held firm. Mario Pasalic came closest to scoring for the hosts, seeing his header rattle the crossbar in the first half, with Schmeichel beaten. Schmeichel also produced fine stops to deny Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui, particularly in a challenging spell before halftime.

Celtic, while primarily focused on defense, had a few notable moments going forward. Nicolas Kuhn broke into the box after outpacing the Atalanta defense, though he was eventually crowded out. Early in the second half, Alex Valle almost gave Celtic the lead with a deflected strike that required a save from Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi.

As the game progressed, Atalanta continued to apply pressure, with Marten de Roon’s powerful effort forcing another save from Schmeichel. Celtic substitute Kyogo Furuhashi had a late chance, but his lobbed effort landed just wide of the mark.

Despite Atalanta’s dominance in possession, Celtic’s defensive resilience frustrated the Italian side, and the visitors held out for a well-earned point. The draw leaves Celtic with four points from three games and two upcoming home fixtures against RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, giving them a solid platform in their quest to reach the knockout stages.

Celtic’s traveling fans were full of praise at the final whistle, celebrating a determined and disciplined display that keeps their European hopes alive.