Celtic answer defensive questions in gutsy goalless draw at Atalanta

Celtic produced an impressive response to their thrashing in Dortmund by holding Atalanta to a goalless Champions League draw in Italy.
Brendan Rodgers’ side followed their 7-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund by keeping their first clean sheet at this level since a 3-0 win at Anderlecht seven years ago.
The Scottish champions had to withstand spells of sustained pressure with the Europa League holders registering 23 efforts at goal but Celtic had some moments of their own.
The result left Celtic on four points from three matches having played their toughest two away fixtures on paper in the eight-game league format.
Celtic were again missing the injured Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers from their back four but Auston Trusty and Alex Valle delivered their best performances since joining towards the end of the transfer window.
Trusty got his head to a number of crosses while on-loan Barcelona left-back Valle dealt well with a busy night and came close at the other end.
Reo Hatate started in midfield and gave Celtic some composure on the ball while Adam Idah was handed a chance up front, but generally struggled to hold the ball up.
Celtic were handed a suspended two-year ban on away fans since that defeat in Germany and there was no repeat of the pyrotechnic displays that would trigger the punishment, although the home supporters did let off smoke bombs and flares.
Idah and Nicolas Kuhn threatened to get in behind early on but it was soon clear that the Celtic defence would be regularly tested with balls from out wide.
Mario Pasalic came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock with a header off the bar before nodding the rebound over. The Croatian also had a good chance on the ground as he ran on to meet a square ball but Kasper Schmeichel trapped the shot between his legs.
Hatate came close from long range and Arne Engels had Celtic’s best first-half effort when he curled a shot from 22 yards that Marco Carnesecchi got down to push away.
The home pressure increased as the half progressed. Atalanta failed to test Schmeichel with a couple of half chances before Alistair Johnston put in an excellent sliding challenge to deny Ademola Lookman at the back post.
Schmeichel pulled off an excellent stop to save Mateo Retegui’s header moments later.
Having seen their team concede five first-half goals in Germany, the Celtic support hailed their side as the whistle spelled the end of a goalless 45 minutes.
Pasalic again displayed the excellent timing of his runs just after the break before glancing a header wide, before Valle had a deflected long-range strike tipped over at the other end after some better hold-up play from Idah.
Celtic began to make some tired mistakes but Schmeichel made solid saves from Marten de Roon and Charles de Ketelaere.
The pressure subsided and Celtic substitute Kyogo Furuhashi had an effort saved, although the flag went up, and then lobbed Valle’s excellent diagonal ball over the bar.
The hosts were back on the attack during four minutes of stoppage time but their final chance disappeared when defender Isak Hien headed over and the visiting supporters celebrated the full-time whistle seconds later.
When you play a team who goes man for man like they do, I’m always going to be the spare man. You try and create spaces, if someone jumps to me then there is a spare man somewhere. It puts an emphasis on the goalkeeper to be creative – sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Atalanta took 22 shots against Celtic but couldn’t find a way past Kasper Schmeichel 🧱 pic.twitter.com/qc87weJ55R
They had to ride their luck, especially in the first half, but that is a fantastic result for Celtic. They have four points on the board now with consecutive home games against RB Leipzig and Club Brugge to follow. Scales and Trusty were excellent at the back, and they positioned themselves well as a unit to intercept so many cut-backs. Pasalic will feel he should have won the game for Atalanta. The Italians sit on five points, outside the top eight.
Atalanta have a corner as the clock ticks beyond 94 minutes. It is going to be an inswinger from the right via Samardzic’s left foot…but Scales and then Valle help get the ball clear. That is surely that.
After the free-kick struck the wall, Atalanta won another in a near identical position. Surely they have to try and work a crossing position rather than shooting from this far out?
Clipped to the back post, Scales wins a towering header. Then Ruggeri whips the ball into the box, and Hein heads over the bar. Just one more minute for Celtic to survive.
There will be four minutes of added time. Scales is hustled into a mistake by Zaniolo after misjudging a long ball, and Atalanta have a free-kick around 30 yards from the Celtic goal.
Celtic right-back Johnston goes down with cramp, but Atalanta have a corner. Samardzic with another poor delivery that Trusty clears. Bernardo then defends well against Hein to win Celtic a throw-in in their own half. Johnston is down again with cramp and is surely going to come off.
After a lively spell from Kyogo, Celtic have no outlet now, every player is deep in their own half. Samardzic tries an inswinging cross, but there is too much on it and the ball drifts behind for a Celtic goal kick. Atalanta looking rather toothless.
Samardzic with a loose pass as another Atalanta attack breaks down. Celtic disciplined in their defensive shape with numbers behind the ball. Celtic’s players will be starting to look at the clock.
De Ketelaere looks for Zappacosta with an audacious backheel. Scales goes down after a knock to the head to help Celtic kill a few seconds. In another sub: Forrest is on for Kuhn.
Atalanta with two more subs: Zaniolo and Ruggeri are on for Pasilic and Kolasinac. It does feel as if Celtic have weathered the storm. Atalanta have lost some of their earlier verve.
Scales with another superb challenge to win the ball just when Celtic looked exposed after a turnover. 
Celtic’s subs have made a positive difference. Kyogo with another run off the shoulder of the defence, picked out by a long pass forward from Palma. The striker tried a highly-ambitious first-time volley but it looped over the bar.
Kyogo will be kicking himself: he had the 36-year-old Cuadrado squared up at the corner of the penalty area but showed him too much of the ball. Two more Celtic changes: Maeda and Engels off, Palma and McCowan on. A European debut for McCowan.
Valle with a sloppy giveaway on the halfway line which gifts Atalanta the chance to counter. Zappacosta then fizzes a shot wide of the near post with an effort from the edge of the area. Celtic preserve their clean sheet.
Kyogo thought he just had Celtic’s best chance of the game – turning and shooting after a swift break from Maeda – but the flag went up for offside. Celtic have plenty of pace at the top end of the pitch, they just need a telling pass and well-timed run.
Rodgers’ turn to make a double sub: Idah and Hatate are coming off, with Kyogo and Bernardo replacing them. Idah was feeding off scraps, but Hein won the physical battle against him.
Atalanta still probing around the Celtic box, focusing more of their attacks down the right in this half, especially since the introduction of De Ketelaere. Celtic continue to have a defender in the right place at the right time to clear. No doubting their commitment to the ugly side of the game tonight. Clean hands from Schmeichel to claim De Ketelaere’s shot across goal.
Lookman weaving his way into the Celtic penalty area but Trusty does well to block the shot. The home fans are starting to sound frustrated with all their unconverted dominance.
De Roon with a shot from 25 yards, Schmeichel down to his left to push clear. Celtic’s legs will surely be starting to burn as they look to hold back the tide.
Atalanta are making a double sub: Retegui and Bellanova off, De Ketelaere and Samardzic are on.
Atalanta win a corner after more impressive defending from Scales. Hein won the first contact, but there was not much power on his header and it drifted wide of the far post.
Celtic go up in the other end and win a corner of their own, with Kuhn making Kolasinac uncomfortable in a one-on-one.
More stout defending from Celtic in their six-yard box, this time from Trusty and Johnston but Atalanta are picking them apart and getting to the byline too easily. Surely only a matter of time before a blue and black shirt connects from close-range.
Celtic almost strike against the run of play as a Valle shot from distance is deflected and Carnesecchi tips over the bar. First save of any note the Atalanta goalkeeper has had to make tonight.
Brilliant last-ditch defending from Scales to cut out Lookman’s menacing low cross. Lovely through ball between full-back and centre-back from Kolasinac to release Lookman. Then Pasalic glances yet another glancing header wide. Celtic cannot track his runs.
Atalanta camped in the Celtic half during the first few minutes of the second half. Zappacosta and Kolasinac were two very underwhelming Premier League players for Chelsea and Arsenal, but Atalanta have found a way to get a tune out of them. They fit a back-three system.
Can Celtic hold out or even throw a counter-punch?
No changes from Gasperini or Rodgers it seems. Atalanta are actually out on the pitch well in advance of Celtic. A ploy to make the Italians wait? Some whistles greet the green and white shirts.
Not a half-time scoreline to be sniffed at for Celtic but this has been tough going. Atalanta have missed two or three good chances to find the opening goal, with Gapserini increasingly agitated about their profligacy. Pasalic could have had a hat-trick of headers.
Celtic are in something of a bind, because their best attacking weapon is their pace on the counter-attack, but by playing forward so directly the ball just keeps coming back at them. They need their forwards to hold on to the ball and hold off their markers.
Celtic clinging on at the end of the half and for the umpteenth time it is Pasalic getting his head to cross, but Schmeichel was equal to the header and Celtic scramble clear. Zappacosta soon tries again, and Trusty heads clear.
Atalanta goalkeeper Carnesecchi shows clean hands to gather a low Maeda cross. That attack was only temporary respite for Celtic, who are soon back defending, but Bellanova runs the ball out of play.
Celtic under heavy pressure now, all 10 outfield players in their defensive third. The fact that Atalanta centre-back Djimsiti felt emboldened to run into the box to meet a cross gives you some idea of Atalanta’s dominance at the moment.
Pasalic is once again the Atalanta player finding space in the Celtic area with his runs forward from midfield, but his glancing header goes over the bar. Not for the first time, it was a right-footed cross from the left from Zappacosta.
Swedish centre-back Isak Hien is having an impressive game. Atalanta are leaving him to cope as one-man defence at times and there he picked off the run of Maeda when Celtic looked to spring forward from deep. 
Atalanta’s midfielder Ederson is following the runs of Hatate all the way into a centre-back position. It means there is space to feed passes forward for Celtic, but Ederson gets there ahead of Hatate to win a foul. Lookman tries to break through in the box but Schmeichel is off his line quickly to collect.
Things almost opened up for Celtic on the break there but Engels’ pass was too heavy for Maeda. Atalanta attack once again but Bellanova’s cross is straight into the arms of Schmeichel.
Celtic’s defence starting to look a little stretched. Retegui dragged the ball across the box but De Roon’s first-time attempt was always rising. The Scales heads behind for an Atalanta corner. The Italian side are pushing six or seven players forward into the Celtic box. Lookman’s delivery was poor and could not clear McGregor.
Another promising moment for Celtic, with Engels chopping back onto his right foot and testing Carnesecchi with a shot from 25 yards which the goalkeeper had to push away diving to his left.
Then Pasalic spurns another clear-cut chance for Atalanta. It was good work from Lookman and Zappacosta in the build-up, but after pinpoint cut-back Pasalic’s shot under little pressure was straight at Schmeichel.
Maeda with a spin behind the Atalanta defence to chase a long ball forward and win Celtic a corner. Celtic are not the most physically imposing team in these situations, and after an initial defensive header up in the air Carnesecchi punches clear.
The first significant defensive scare for Celtic but they survive. Zappacosta cuts inside from left wing-back to cross with his right foot, and Pasalic planted a header against the bar. His rebound bounced on the roof of the net. Just before that, Gasperini was admonishing his team for a lack of composure and accuracy in possession.
Atalanta threaten as a cross narrowly evades the studs of Retegui at the back post with Scales out of position. Then the striker combines well with Lookman, but after the one-two at the edge of the box Lookman’s side-foot shot is straight at Schmeichel.
Celtic are taking up a 4-4-2 defensive shape, and are picking their moments to pressure Atalanta’s defenders in possession. Rodgers will be fairly pleased with the level of solidity shown so far. Scales with a loose ball across midfield which is intercepted by Ederson.
Atalanta’s goalkeeper Carnesecchi did well to sweep up behind their high line after another searching ball forward from Schmeichel. 
Really rash challenge from Celtic’s right-back Johnstone on Zappacosta, at the expense of a yellow card and a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position.
Celtic defend, and the Kuhn shows his pace to get away from his marker and drive into the box on the counter-attack. Excellent covering from the midfielder Ederson to snuff out the danger. 
Kuhn needs to do better to retain the ball with his back to goal. Kolasinac forced him back and into a mistake. Lovely switch of play from Lookman from left to right, as Atalanta try to test this Celtic defence with crosses. Bellanova gets his head to the ball at the back post, but not enough power to trouble Schmeichel. 
Retegui looking fairly lively so far, receiving the ball in some interesting areas. Celtic then progress through midfield well, but Maeda’s touch let him down and the ball ran away from him down the left wing. Celtic’s defensive shape is looking sound so far but they could do with making the ball stick in the final third.
Hatate with an early giveaway in midfield, but Atalanta’s striker Retegui delivered a cross that was too strong. Schmeichel early on looks to hit Idah with a direct pass forward. Trying to bypass Atalanta’s man-to-man pressing. Maeda closes down Djimsiti well, but the ball bounces out for an Atalanta goal kick.
Celtic get the game underway, playing in their usual home kit but with plain white socks.
It looks like the rain has relented but the pitch will be zippy. The question for Celtic is whether they can find that balance between attacking threat and defensive solidity.
If you watched the game last night, Dortmund concede five goals in the second half. It’s such a high level, games can get away from you. That was a sore one for us [the 7-1 in Dortmund], it was hard to take, but this is a real honest group of players who have come here to make life difficult for Atalanta.
Atalanta are a very physical team, a very aggressive team, and at times you have to play through that press into your front man. There will be a lot of individual duels, one-on-one.
You hear a lot of things about strategy. We go into every game looking to defend well. We conceded early goals in Dortmund which spooked us, because we weren’t compact enough.
We go into every game looking to be compact; sometimes that’s pressing high, sometimes in that middle third and sometimes in the defensive third.
It’s not Russian roulette football! I wouldn’t be a very wise coach or stood here today if that was how I coached.
Gasperini’s team are sixth with just four wins from eight games, but based on expected goals they have Serie A’s most productive attack. Their defence is not quite so impressive, which should mean we are in for an open game. I fancy Celtic’s best chance will be getting Kuhn and Maeda down the sides of Atalanta’s back three.
Listen, I started coaching many, many years ago, over 25 years ago, and from the very beginning my coaching has always been aggressive. And until the day I finish it will be aggressive, and that’s how it will be.
But I’m also respectful that where you play against teams at a certain level, certain opponents, you have to really look at their strengths.
But don’t say I don’t do that in every game, because I do, no matter what team we are playing, whether it’s in Scotland or in the Champions League.
It’s the level at which you can get punished. You have to have the balance in your game, you have to be really strong defensively.
There’s going to be moments when you can press the game high, there’s going to be moments when you’re lower on the pitch. The key learning for us has to be that when you are in those moments, you cannot go on your own.
Atalanta XI: Carnesecchi, Hien, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Bellanova, de Roon, Ederson Silva, Zappacosta, Pasalic, Lookman, Retegui
Subs: Rui Patricio, Rossi, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Zaniolo, De Ketelaere, Ruggeri, Samardzic, Palestra, Manzoni, Vlahovic, Del Lungo
I nostri 11 per Atalanta-Celtic 📝The 11 who will take to the pitch for Atalanta vs. Celtic 🚨#AtalantaCeltic #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/uk8NHY0Tw5
I remember Carlton Cole saying that the weather at the 2023 Conference League final in Prague offered West Ham an advantage against Fiorentina because “they don’t have storms in Italy”. Given the result, maybe he was on to something.
☔ We brought the Scottish weather!#AtalantaCeltic | #UCL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/9XLy2xM2kK
📋 #CelticFC Team News 🟢⚪Here’s how we line up in Italy! 🔢 #AtalantaCeltic | #UCL🍀 pic.twitter.com/aBjGiy849b
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Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Celtic’s Champions League trip to Atalanta after two contrasting outings in the new-look league phase so far. Brendan Rodgers’ team won 5-1 at home to Slovan Bratislava in their opening game before a chastening 7-1 thrashing at Borussia Dortmund.
Celtic had a tough league game at the weekend, a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen at Parkhead which left the clubs level on 22 points at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Celtic remain top domestically thanks to their superior goal difference.
Tonight’s game in Bergamo against last season’s Europa League winners also promises to be an exacting test. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team press aggressively with a smothering man-to-man approach that can be difficult for uninitiated opponents to come to terms with. 
Atalanta have four points on the board after two Champions League matches; a convincing win over Shakhtar Donetsk and a creditable home draw against Arsenal in which they came closest to taking all three points with a missed penalty. 
One of their attacking threats is Ademola Lookman, a player Rodgers said almost joined him at Celtic during his first managerial spell at the club.
The winger agreed personal terms on a move from Charlton but Everton outbid Celtic  in a reported £11 million deal in January 2017.
Rodgers was reunited with Lookman in a loan season from RB Leipzig in 2021-22 when he was Leicester manager but again his club could not afford a permanent transfer.
He instead tipped off former Celtic chief scout Lee Congerton, who was then at Atalanta, and the English-born Nigeria international will face Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday with his profile raised by his hat-trick heroics in last season’s Europa League final.
Rodgers said: “Ademola was one that we tracked back in my first time at Celtic.
“I met him in a hotel in London and we were looking to convince him to come. Sadly, we just couldn’t get to the levels that Charlton wanted for him, but the club had done everything they possibly could at that time.
“He wanted to join a big club and feel those pressures and everything of why a player would want to come to Celtic.
“Charlton clearly were wanting to get as much as they possibly could for him. We spoke to him from the personal perspective. It was a move that suited him and suited his representatives and he was very clear on that.
“But obviously it was the financial sum at the end, he went to Everton and it just drifted away from us.”
Team news on the way.