Brendan Rodgers’ brave Celtic produced a show full of heart and resilience to grab a precious Champions League point.
The Parkhead side scrapped superbly to survive a severe examination in Bergamo and keep relentless hosts Atalanta at bay. Rodgers’ side were panned for losing seven goals on their previous away trip when battered by Borussia Dortmund.
But a resolute performance of grit and graft in Italy showed lessons had been learned as they held firm against Gian Piero Gasperini’s non-stop side. Atalanta are top scorers in Serie A this term but the Europa League holders were unable to breach Rodgers’ rearguard who, with Auston Trusty and Liam Scales superb, refused to buckle.
It was a marvellous response to Germany. Despite having to withstand pressure for sustained spells, Celtic got to the break level. Atalanta had the best sighter in that opening quarter when Croat midfielder Mario Pasalic sent a header against Kasper Schmeichel’s crossbar. It would not be his last look.
Arne Engels had a shot saved before Pasalic drove a glorious chance straight at the Danish keeper, Davide Zappacosta also hit over before Mateo Retegui had another superb opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
The header was firm and fierce, but too close to Schmeichel who saved. Atalanta kept pushing after the interval with Schmeichel beating away a shot from Marten de Roon after Isak Hein weakly nodded wide.
Celtic stayed committed and stayed in it going into the last 20 minutes as they bravely covered spaces and defended their box. Zappacosta tugged a shot wide, but Celtic kept a threat and sub Kyogo Furuhashi, on for Adam Idah, lobbed a volley on the stretch over.
Celtic had to stay concentrated through the anxious final stages, but they got over the line to secure a terrific point. Here’s five talking points:
Keeping it tight
This was an evening when it would be clear if Celtic had learned lessons from their Borussia battering. They showed they had. Rodgers needed his team to tighten up after the horrors of Germany and, although Reo Hatate gave the ball away inside a minute with a loose pass, it was so much better .
Although under pressure for sustained spells, they at least tried to take sting out of proceedings when the opportunity arose and did it well in the final stages, albeit there were other moments when it was hurried and possession squandered earlier.
Celtic stayed as tight together as they possibly could as Atalanta made runs off them and tried to pull opponents out of positions and holes.
There was communication as players passed runners onto team-mates and hauled individuals into the right areas. With just one clean sheet in the previous 39 proper Champions League outings, it was a huge effort to stay solid.
Carter absence covered
Auston Trusty and Liam Scales had been given a torrid time in Germany and there was a desire and a determination to get a head on things when it came into the box. Naturally, given the standard of the hosts, there were chances given up before the break with Mario Pasalic constantly able to escape.
The Croat’s runs from deeper were an issue, but there was a conviction to compete in the backline and defend the six-yard area as balls arrived from both flanks with regularity.
Cameron Carter Vickers has missed around 50 per cent of matches at this stage of the Champions League since moving to Celtic. The team have struggled to cope without his ability and calm leadership.
Without question, he is crucial to the set-up and Rodgers needs him back and he needs him robust, but this was excellent from Scales and Trusty, who typified his commitment when suffering a head knock in the last 10 minutes crunching into another aerial duel. The defensive duo were outstanding along with the rest
Smart Alex
The on-loan Barcelona kid was given his stiffest task since signing for Celtic due to the continued absence of the injured Greg Taylor. It was a difficult job for the left-back as he faced an opponent with physique and power in the impressive Raoul Bellanova.
Valle looked determined not to leave any gaps inside him as he tightened alongside Liam Scales and that gave his rival time out wide on occasions. It was a game of cat-and-mouse. When to tuck and when to go early and engage. Valle got it right most times before the interval.
Valle burst out to have a shot deflected over soon after the restart and he was full of courage as he tried make blocks and carry the ball.
Idah Idea
The Irish striker was chosen ahead of Kyogo Furuhasi in an attempt to fend off marker Isak Hien to get a hold of the ball and give Celtic a focal point.
With no goals in seven games on the road in this stage of the tournament since signing, the Japanese was left in reserve as Idah got a first start in the competition and his task was clear.
Kasper Schmeichel looked to hit to get Celtic out and he looked to get in behind onto an Arne Engels flick early doors.
It was a sensible tactic. With Atalanta determined to press, the chance for the keeper to knock over that man-to-man pressure into the hitman was a perfect route out.
Unfortunately, the hitman was second best too often as the powerful Hein had his measure and it led to waves of home attack.
Idah kept battling as hard as he could against Hein before Kyogo took over midway through the second period.
Hoops heading for play off
Coming hard on the heels of the demolition in Dortmund, it could have been two harrowing away trips for Rodgers and his team.
However, when the fixtures came out for the eight-game league phase, had that happened, the Celtic points tally at this stage is exactly what many felt they would have.
This point, though, puts them into bonus territory.
The games in Germany and Italy almost looked like being the toughest in the schedule and, realistically, the gathering of any points in the chase to qualify for the play-off round was always more likely through the other half-a-dozen outings.
But it’s now four on the board from three games, one more than many expected.
RB Leipzig at home next up is a massive match for Rodgers and his team. Take something from that, to add to the three points also secured against Slovan Bratislava and they are on the right road.