Celtic couldn’t make it four successive wins in the Champions League after they had to settle for a point by Club Brugge.
It was a compelling evening in Glasgow with the Belgian side enjoying a dominant opener period with Cameron Carter-Vickers putting the ball into his own net midway through the opening period before Daizen Maeda levelled with a spectacular effort on the hour mark.
Much improved in the second period, Celtic pushed for a winner although Brugge were always a threat in this game.
Against a side who were composed on the ball, Celtic will feel satisfied that they remain unbeaten at home in the tournament. They might have nicked a winner in the closing stages but a point a piece was a fair reflection of the night.
It leaves them on eight points with three games still to play.
Celtic found themselves up again in the opening stages of the game as Club Brugge dominated the opening exchanges.
They were architects of their own downfall, however, as Carter-Vickers misjudged the positioning of Kasper Schmeichel – who had moved to the right-hand side of his six-yard box – and struck a pass back to the feet of the goalkeeper that he was never going to make. The American internationalist looked on in dismay as the ball ended up in the bottom corner of the net.
If it was a howler that put Celtic on the backfoot, it was no less that the visitors had deserved.
They might have added to their tally as the half went on as Celtic struggled to find the same aggression that had taken the wind from Leipzig’s sails in the club’s last outing in the Champions League.
If there was some relief among the home support that Celtic made it into the break with only a solitary goal of a deficit, they got the improvement they desired after the interval.
Maeda restored parity on the hour mark when he cut the ball behind him with his left-foot, took it onto his right and curled a a glorious effort into the far corner.
It energised the stadium as Celtic looked to take the initiative. Kyogo hit the side netting and Paulo Bernardo had an effort go wide of the target, although there remained a huge let off after it looked as though Brugge had taken the lead again.
Reo Hatate lost possession with Ferran Jutgla netted before VAR intervened to cut the celebrations of Brugge short.
Both teams committed to winning it. Celtic introduced Adam Idah and James Forrest in the latter stages as they looked to claim the points.
Brugge, though, always carried menace.
Celtic had chances in the closing stages. Hatate had a Hollywood effort that whistled wildly wide but a point apiece keeps Celtic’s Champions League qualification aspirations alive.
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