What Atalanta draw means for Celtic's Champions League qualification hopes as knockout stage chances assessed
Brendan Rodgers’ side earned a valuable point at the Stadio di Bergamo last night after a battling draw against the Serie A club.
Celtic earned a hugely positive 0-0 draw away from home in the UEFA Champions League as they picked up a point at the Stadio di Bergamo against Atalanta.
The Serie A side pressed hard to try and snatch victory out of the fixture but Brendan Rodgers’ men defended resolutely and Kasper Schmeichel was equal to the home side’s tests throughout. After their heavy defeat away to Borussia Dortmund it was a performance that showed they are more than capable of keeping clean sheets in Europe’s elite level competition.
At the conclusion of the match, the Hoops have found themselves on four points after three games played with five still to go, including three home matches, in the newly formatted League phase. Here is what last night’s point had done for their hopes of reaching the knockout stages:
What Atalanta draw means for Celtic's Champions League knockout stage hopes
In the new League Phase format of the UEFA Champions League, picking up results away from home are massive for team’s chances of reaching the knockout stage. The top eight qualify automatically for the Last 16 while the teams who finish ninth to 24th enter the play-offs for the eight remaining spots.
Celtic’s 0-0 draw away to Atalanta leaves them 18th in the league table having won one, drawn one and lost one. The heavy defeat to Borussia Dortmund obviously had a negative impact on their goal difference and they are one of six teams currently on four points and the lowest ranked of those clubs.
They are now one point above 25th spot and two points behind eight place. Clearly it is a very early stage to know just how valuable this point could end up being. However, with three home matches still to play and an away tie to Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia that the Hoops will fancy their chances in, it is a massive bonus to be taking anything off a club from one of the top five European league on their own patch.
Celtic’s remaining UEFA Champions League fixtures
Celtic still have five games remaining in the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League and three of those will be played in Glasgow. They are:
- Celtic v RB Leipzig - November 5
- Celtic v Club Brugge - November 27
- Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic - December 10
- Celtic v Young Boys - January 22
- Aston Villa v Celtic - January 29