Celtic take the positives from draw in Hamburg

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 21:59

CELTIC'S record in Germany had offered little cause for optimism, and given their struggles here in the past this was a draw which felt like victory.

But triumphs of spirit are not rewarded with three points, and Tony Mowbray's team continue their residency at the bottom of Group C, and, following Happoel Tel Aviv's victory in Vienna, have little hope of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Regret will be a feature of this Europa League campaign. Not only were chances squandered last night, but so, too, at home against last night's opponents and Austria Vienna. Scott McDonald could have scored twice in the first-half here, while Georgios Samaras will also despair at his failure to be more decisive in front of goal. But, rather then linger on their disappointments, it is right to focus on Celtic's successes. The spotlight is not required to shift too far from Lukasz Zaluska, who was excellent throughout.

This performance was fuelled with endeavour. If the match at times essayed the gulf in class between the top of the Bundesliga and Scottish Premier League, it proved how application can be an effective leveller. This was Celtic's ninth visit to Germany, and only the second time they have left with something to show for their efforts. The other occasion, against Werder Bremen, also finished goal-less.

Litanies of failure currently cling to the club like barnacles; one win in 26 away trips in Europe, just two in eight European fixtures this season. But here was a minor triumph, one which was gladly accepted by the impressive away following. The news from across the border in Austria was deflating, however. Hapoel's win against Rapid Vienna means Celtic must win their final two matches, and hope Hamburg lose both of theirs. But Celtic simply celebrated the fact their slender chance of qualification had not been completely extinguished.

Mowbray chose the second of the two options which he wrestled with on the eve of this game; rather than start, Marc-Antoine Fortune began the match on the bench, with Georgios Samaras sharing the attacking duties with Scott McDonald. The front men were heavily involved in the early stages as both sides traded good opening chances. It proved an accurate reflection of how the game would develop. Hamburg squandered the first opportunity, after just a couple of minutes, when Marcus Berg was denied at his near post by the alert Zaluska.

At the other end, McDonald fed Samaras, who although stumbling under a challenge from Dennis Aago, transferred the ball to Barry Robson. The midfielder's effort was deflected just wide, but chances continued to fall at both ends. It was hard to offer excuses for McDonald, who saw Frank Rost save a weak effort after good work from Samaras. He was just as unconvincing in the 33rd minute, following a clever ball into his path from Aiden McGeady. Rost blocked with his legs.

Fortunately for Celtic, Zaluska continued to distinguish himself with a fine stop from the impressive Marcell Jansen.

As the smoke from a flare cleared in the Celtic end, so too, did a picture of the game. Celtic, bolstered by two in men in attack, were almost guaranteed to carve out chances, but Hamburg's sorties forward always looked the more potent.

Off the field, too, exchanges were glanced back and forth between the supporters, with the large Celtic contingent bolstered by their friends from the other side of a port city which is divided almost as strictly as Glasgow.

The HSH Nordbank Arena maintains Germany's reputation for knowing how to design football grounds. Steep sides sloped backwards from the pitch, and the already fervent atmosphere was intensified by this city's strange association with Glasgow. SV Hamburg have pledged allegiance to Rangers, Celtic to St Pauli. Fans from all clubs were expected to attend last night, but whether those from Rangers did make a stop-off in Hamburg on their way back from Bucharest was not clear. Present, though, were pro-Rangers banners. A surreal touch was provided by the huge "No Surrender" flag that was unfurled just as the teams prepared to appear.

The suspicion that Celtic would rue the failure to convert any one of these openings prevailed, and became an ever firmer feeling when Hamburg struck the top of the crossbar. Aago's free-kick was met rather untidily by Joris Mathijsen, but a combination of head and shoulder propelled the ball onto the bar, and over. A minute later Elia's shot was palmed away by Zaluska, with Gary Caldwell required to sweep away the loose ball. Further alarm for the visitors was prompted by a loud shout from the home support for hand-ball against Daniel Fox.

Replays seemed to indicate that the ball had struck his chest, and not arm, and so Mowbray's men survived.

But there was no mistaking the shift in power, with Celtic's ambitions suddenly reduced to breaking out of their own half. Mowbray confronted this problem by making a double substitution two minutes before the hour mark. Fortune was brought on as expected, and replaced McGeady. But Mowbray's intentions were more clearly signalled by his withdrawal of McDonald for Lee Naylor.

Fox pushed into midfield, with the aim to contain the home team. But the alteration briefly brightened Celtic's own prospects in front of goal. Samaras' finish was lamentable, however, after Landry N'Guemo's pass into space.