As the whistle blew at the end of the match, the scene was set for a tale of woe for both teams: a goalless draw that will leave both Atalanta and Celtic wondering what could have been. The Italian side, fresh from their impressive Serie A form, looked to have the game at their mercy at times, but ultimately, it was a missed opportunity that will leave them ruing their lack of precision in the final third.
The early stages of the game belonged to Atalanta, with Ademola Lookman and Matteo Retegui causing all sorts of problems for Celtic’s defense. Retegui, the top scorer in Serie A, had the first major opportunity in the 14th minute, finding space in the box but firing wide. It was a sign of things to come, as Celtic’s backline struggled to contain the Italian side’s forwards.
But, as the match wore on, Celtic began to gain a foothold. They grew into the game, their direct style causing problems for Atalanta’s defense. Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda linked up effectively, but they were ultimately unable to break through the Atalanta backline, marshaled by Berat Djimsiti, who was quick to snuff out any Celtic threat.
Atalanta nearly took the lead in the 18th minute, with Mario Pasalic connecting powerfully with a Davide Zappacosta cross, only for the ball to crash off the crossbar. Pasalic had another chance from the rebound, but his follow-up effort landed on the roof of the net. It was a let-off for Celtic, who found themselves under increasing pressure as the first half progressed.
The Belgian forward, Engels, had a close-range effort that required a sharp stop from Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, while Retegui had several chances, including a golden opportunity in the 48th minute that was crucially intercepted by Liam Scales, who had an outstanding game.
As the game wore on, both sides turned to their benches to try and break the deadlock. Atalanta introduced Nicolo Zaniolo and Charles De Ketelaere, while Celtic brought on Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest. However, neither set of substitutes managed to significantly alter the flow of the game.
In the end, it was a point that both teams can be satisfied with. While neither side will be thrilled with the result, they can take heart from the fact that they were able to hold each other to a draw, and each will look to regroup and push on in their respective competitions. For Atalanta, the draw leaves them with a chance to bounce back, while for Celtic, it’s a point on the road that will give them a platform to build on. As the teams left the field, the score through a pulsating match, the question on everyone’s lips is: what could have been.
