Celtic edged towards the Champions League playoff round with a 0-0 draw away to Dinamo Zagreb.
The visitors may feel like they didn’t grasp the nettle in the Croatian capital but can count another vital point gained in their quest for European progression.
Despite the looming carrot of a guaranteed top 24 spot, the first half was played with a hesitancy indicative of two sides both with other things on their mind.
The hosts looked to stem a poor run of results amidst a plague of injuries which had seen them winless in their previous five and third in their domestic table.
Meanwhile Brendan Rodgers’ outfit knew that a guaranteed extended European run may only be the second biggest prize up for grabs this week, with the protruding shadow of an Old Firm Cup Final hanging over every conversation.
The big moment looked as though it was set to come four minutes into the second half when Nicolas Kuhn bore down on goal only to see his effort valiantly blocked by Maxime Bernauer.
Approaching the hour mark the game began to open up with both sides taking it in turn to charge up the pitch without causing many issues for either goalkeeper.
Dinamo Zagreb sensed an opportunity to take all three points as they finished the game stronger. Mark Pjaca came closest when his back post header was touched over by Kasper Schmeichel.
Adam Idah then looked as though he would add to his collectors book of late winners in a Celtic jersey, but he was denied by a stunning last gasp challenge from Kevin Theophile-Catherine.
Neither side could find the breakthrough, but Celtic will count an important point banked on the road with Young Boys still to play at home in January.
