Celtic moved on unscathed after a goalless draw against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, which left their hopes of knockout phase qualification well and truly alive.
Brendan Rodgers knows that a victory over Young Boys will secure progression, while a number of other permutations could see the Bhoys through depending on results elsewhere.
To simplify, nine points gives Celtic a 38% chance of making the knockouts. Ten comes in at an improved 83% probability, while 11 or 12 would definitely be enough.
Ultimately, Celtic’s draw in Zagreb provoked mixed emotions among supporters, with some believing there was scope to take all three points, while others were relieved not to lose out late on.
Either way, the Bhoys know their Champions League destiny remains under internal control, and plenty of positives can be taken from their start in the competition.
Greg Taylor taking the positives from Celtic draw in Zagreb
Speaking after Celtic’s stalemate in Croatia, Greg Taylor pointed out that Celtic’s ability to dominate possession with an element of comfort is a sign of the progress his side have made on the continent.
He explained: “Defensively we were pretty solid as a team, and then just in the final third we probably lacked that cutting edge that we would have liked to have the quality to win the game.
“So, of course, it’s a good point away from home in the Champions League but we’d probably have liked a wee bit more.
“That shows we’re building at this level. We had a lot of the ball, which normally means you want to go and create a wee bit more than we actually did, but there was a lot of good control within the game.”
Celtic turn attention to Premier Sports Cup final
With supporters filtering in on planes back from Zagreb, there is a swift turnaround for the Bhoys as the Premier Sports Cup final against Rangers this weekend takes precedence.
Silverware and bragging rights are on the line, and Celtic have the advantage heading into Sunday’s action amid their earlier involvement in European competition in comparison to their enemies across the city.
Rotation has also been a major factor for the reigning Scottish top-flight champions in recent weeks. Rodgers has difficult selection calls to make as he plots a winning formula at Hampden.
However, Celtic can take confidence heading into the clash, which could offer a first trophy of the season for the men in Hoops.
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