Celtic will go into next week’s Champions League second-leg playoff with work to do after a resolute Kairat Almaty held them to a surprise 0-0 draw at Parkhead on Wednesday.
A toiling performance saw the home side struggle to break down a stubborn and organised Kazakh side, who caused Brendan Rodgers’ men problems of their own on the break as they battled to a deserved draw. The Hoops' home support grew frustrated, with chants of ‘sack the board’ audible in the second half as the Hoops' frontline, in need of extra bodies, struggled to find the desired opener.
Celtic will now return to domestic action as they host Livingston this weekend in the Scottish Premiership, before they head to Almaty in Kazakhstan for next week’s second leg against Rafael Urakhtin’s side on Tuesday, 26 August.
Here’s how The Scotsman rated the performance of each Celtic player in the 0-0 draw against Kairat Almaty at Parkhead:
5. Kieran Tierney - 6
Building a telepathy with Maeda, and swung some teasing crosses into the area early on. Booked for a slight scuffle during a corner, and was taken off late in the second-half. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. Callum McGregor - 6
Kept Celtic ticking over with 95% passing accuracy, but not to his usual high standards as the home side toiled throughout the game. Important header late on stopped a dangerous Kairat breakaway. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
7. Reo Hatate - 6
His usual sublime passing was under par, with a number of overhit balls halting Celtic attacks. He didn't hide though, and continued to ask for the ball in order to try and unlock the Kairat defence. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Benjamin Nygren - 5
His corners failed to find a Celtic shirt too often. Made a nice driving run just after the half-hour mark that should have resulted in at least a shot on target, but for his overhit pass. A bit of a rollercoaster performance with good and bad moments. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group