Atalanta 0-0 Celtic PLAYER RATINGS: How was a clean sheet secured? Who was a tower of strength? Which young player took a big step forward?
A courageous defensive performance answered Celtic's critics and earned them a precious Champions League point against Atalanta in Bergamo.
Accused of being naive in their 7-1 thrashing by Borussia Dortmund, the Scottish champions showed they had learned their lesson with a pragmatic display full of guts and discipline.
Brendan Rodgers' team were under long spells of sustained pressure, but they held firm to boost their chances of progressing in the tournament. PAUL FORSYTH assesses the individual performances.
Defender Auston Trusty got his head on just about everything that came his way in Bergamo
Kasper Schmeichel pulled off a series of solid saves to earn Celtic a precious draw with Atalanta
Liam Scales is congratulated by his manager, Brendan Rodgers, for contributing to a clean sheet
Comfortably dealt with everything thrown at him. Made a series of solid saves, mostly to deny Pasalic.
Alistair Johnston - 7
Struggled in the first half to stop at source Zappacosta’s many dangerous crosses, but dug in hard to win his duels.
Auston Trusty - 8
Passed a stern aerial test with flying colours, as ball after ball came his way. Got his head on just about all of them.
Liam Scales - 8
Strained every sinew, standing up to the barrage of crosses and cutting out one that Retegui was ready to convert.
Alex Valle - 7
The youngster grew in confidence as the game progressed. His dipping left-foot shot was tipped over by the goalkeeper.
Arne Engels - 6
Didn’t have enough ball to exert his usual influence. Had a curling first-half shot parried by the goalkeeper.
Callum McGregor - 7
Showed another side to his game on a demanding night, policing Pasalic, and others, in front of the defence.
Reo Hatate - 6
Worked hard and, where possible, got his head up and looked to release a winger on the counter attack.
Nicolas Kuhn - 7
Dangerously fast on the break, most notably when he burst past Ederson. Gradually improved defensively.
Adam Idah - 6
Gave Celtic their best chance of building attacks by coming short and holding the ball up. Fed off scraps though.
Daizen Maeda - 7
Gave everything and showed glimpses of menace when the chance arose. One counter and cross nearly picked out Idah.
SUBSTITUTES
Kyogo Furuhashi (Idah, 67min)
Paulo Bernardo (Hatate, 67)
Luis Palma (Maeda, 74))
Luke McCowan (Engels, 74)
James Forrest (Kuhn 81)
Not used: Sinisalo, Bain, Yang, Nawrocki, Ralston, Welsh.
BRENDAN RODGERS 7
Saw his team execute the gameplan to perfection.
ATALANTA
(3-4-1-2): Carnesecchi 6; Djimsiti 6, Hien 7, Kolasinac 6 (Ruggeri 78min); Bellanova 6 (Samardzic 58), De Roon 7, Ederson 6, Zappacosta 7; Pasalic 6 (Zaniolo 78); Retegui 5 (De Ketelaere 58,), Lookman 7 (Cuadrado 69).
Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH) 6
