4.4 per cent - the shocking statistic behind Celtic's Champions League elimination

Celtic are out of Europe after the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night condemned them to a bottom place finish in Champions League Group F.

Ange Postecoglou’s side went into their penultimate group fixture already eliminated from the Champions League knock-out stages but the Celtic Park stalemate also killed off their hopes of finishing third and dropping into the Europa League.

The result left the Hoops with just two points from their five fixtures to date meaning they are now left with a dead rubber trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid next Wednesday in their final group match.

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The disappointment over Celtic’s European exit will be matched by their frustration over the manner in which it has unfolded with a failure to take chances a major theme of their performances, which have earned plaudits if not the results required.

Celtic's Matt O'Riley reacts after missing a chance during the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)Celtic's Matt O'Riley reacts after missing a chance during the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Celtic's Matt O'Riley reacts after missing a chance during the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

Postecoglou’s attacking brand of football has seen Celtic conjur up an impressive 68 goal attempts across their five Champions League matches – just three less than Barcelona and Bayern Munich – but only three goals have been scored. That is a conversion rate of just 4.4 per cent – a damning statistic that will need addressed if they are to make a bigger impact in Europe next season, something the Australian acknowledged as he gave his reaction to the draw with Shakhtar.

“We know the areas where we have fallen short in this campaign,” Postecoglou said. “They are the areas where we obviously need to improve but that only comes with experience and learning and improvement. That’s our task - to take what we have learned this year and improve next year.”

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