SNS GroupCeltic will step on to the pitch at Zagreb’s Maksimir Stadium on Tuesday knowing that victory over Dinamo would put them within touching distance of the Champions League knock-out stages.
Brendan Rodgers and his players have already produced some memorable results in the League Phase and aim to deliver another strong performance on the continent’s biggest stage.
They go up against a Dinamo side that has had its moments this season but is currently in crisis and desperate for any sort of win to help turn things around.
The Croatian champions won the title with plenty to spare last season but the winning touch has long been lost and with only seven wins from 16 matches, they currently sit third in the league table.
A horrendous start to the new-look Champions League, when they were thumped 9-2 by Bayern Munich, cost manager Sergej Jakirović his job and he was replaced by Nenad Bjelica, who returned to Dinamo for a second spell in charge.
Bjelica saw an improvement in European football, with a draw against Monaco followed by morale-boosting wins over RB Salzburg and Slovan Bratislava before a defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
Domestic results have not been good though, and put the new boss under severe pressure. A loss to fierce rivals Hajduk Split last week reportedly had Bjelica on the brink and after a 1-1 draw with Slaven Belupo the Dinamo ultras turned on the players, subjecting them to abuse.
SNS GroupThose ugly scenes prompted a written response from the club’s board, who admitted results were poor but vowed to turn things around.
“The game against Slaven showed we are in a crisis of results which has largely been influenced by injuries to the most high-quality of our first-team players,” a club statement read. “But there is no crisis within the club.
“We have funds for the next transfer window. For us, the window has already opened in the search for reinforcements in the agreed positions.
“We will work our way out of this results crisis and return to winning ways.
“Surrender is not an option in Dinamo’s DNA.
“Just like in previous seasons, we will get out of our present difficulties together with your support.”
While positive and defiant in tone, the board’s intention to fix things in January’s transfer market, and Bjelica’s claim he has only 14 fit players for Tuesday, will be music to Celtic ears as they train in Croatia ahead fo the game.
In contrast to their opposition, it’s been plain sailing for Rodgers and his side, with the European experience positive and encouraging overall, and the domestic results pointing to a team that’s confident in their ability to score goals and punish mistakes.
SNS GroupYou have to go back to October 1 to find Celtic’s last defeat, the drubbing in Dortmund that’s their only competitive loss of the season. A goal difference of +40 from just 15 league games demonstrates domestic dominance, and the team will return from Zagreb on Wednesday to begin preparations for the Premier Sports Cup final and a chance to pick up the first silverware of the season.
It’s no surprise then, that Celtic players are eagerly anticipating Tuesay’s game, though they did stress that they were expecting a challenge in Croatia.
“I think it will be a great atmosphere but it’s also a great chance for us to go and pick up points on the road,” Alistair Johnston said.
“We struggled with that against Dortmund but found our feet against Atalanta and now this is a great chance to see if we can push on and pick up three points.
“Either way, we’re expecting a big match and we know the travelling support will be great.
“I think it will be a really special night.”
Kasper Schmeichel shares the defender’s enthusiasm but warned of a tough task.
“It’s a big challenge,” Schmeichel told Celtic TV. “Tough game, tough place to go.
“But I think we’ve shown this season, we’ve been able to adapt to lots of different types of games, lots of different conditions.
“And Tuesday will be no different.”
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