The National Times - Celtic held to goalless stalemate at Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League

The result leaves both sides still firmly in contention for a place in the next stage of the tournament, with the Scottish champions sitting 17th and Zagreb in 21st.

Teams placed ninth to 24th in the new league format will enter a play-off round to reach the round of 16.

Zagreb started their campaign with a 9-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich but have won two and drawn two of their subsequent five matches, and have eight points.

Celtic have enjoyed their best recent run in European football this term under Brendan Rodgers after several disappointing seasons, and are one spot outside securing themselves a seeded draw in the play-off round.

Rodgers' side have nine points, the same as six-times winners Bayern in 13th and one more than 2023 champions Manchester City, though both sides now have a game in hand.

The first half was one of few chances for either side, with none of the four shots recorded in the opening 45 minutes troubling either goalkeeper.

Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second period but his rifled effort on goal was deflected over the bar by home defender Maxime Bernauer.

The match then opened up a bit, with the pace of Celtic's attacking trio of Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi worrying Zagreb on the counter-attack.

Marko Pjaca unleashed from the edge of the box but his fierce goalbound effort was bravely blocked by centre-half Auston Trusty, before Celtic's Kasper Schmeichel made a comfortable save from Martin Baturina -- the tie's first shot on target, coming two minutes before the hour.

Furuhashi came close to touching in a cross and the previously underworked Danijel Zagorac palmed the ball out to Cameron Carter-Vickers, who blazed over from close range.

Zagreb and Celtic rang the changes, and inside the final 20 minutes the chances dried up again for both.

Schmeichel made a fine save from Pjaca on 80 minutes as the tie finished goalless, breaking Zagreb's run of 43 games in European competition without a 0-0 draw.

W.Phillips--TNT