Celtic Held to 0-0 Draw by Kairat Almaty in Champions League Playoff

Celtic fails to break down Kairat Almaty in 0-0 Draw

Celtic's Champions League hopes suffered a setback after a 0-0 draw with Kairat Almaty. Learn more about the match and what's next.

Celtic's hopes of reaching the Champions League main draw for a fourth consecutive season suffered a setback after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park. Despite dominating possession with 74.6% of the ball, Celtic failed to create enough clear-cut chances to break down the Kazakh side's defense.

Kairat Almaty, who have now gone three matches unbeaten against Scottish opposition, defended resolutely and caught Celtic on the counter-attack on several occasions. The visitors' striker Edmilson was a constant threat, nearly scoring with a header that was ruled offside early in the game.

All to play for in Kazakhstan.#CelticKairat | #UCL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/wY3clzblY0

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 20, 2025

Celtic's manager Brendan Rodgers expressed disappointment with his team's performance, particularly in the first half, saying they didn't start with the intent and mentality they wanted to. He acknowledged that they need to improve their squad, but for now, they'll focus on preparing for the return leg in Almaty next week.

The scoreless draw means Celtic now face a tough task to qualify for the Champions League group stage, with the return leg scheduled for next Tuesday in Kazakhstan. Before then, they'll take on Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. Celtic's fans were unhappy with the team's performance, chanting “Sack the board” during the match, reflecting their frustration with the club's transfer policy and lack of signings.

Despite their strong performance in the first half, Brendan Rodgers' team struggled to create scoring opportunities due to a lack of quality in the final third. The team had a close call early on when Kairat captain Alyaksandr Martynovich thought he had scored, only to be denied by the offside flag, sparing the Hoops from an early deficit.

Despite being dominated in possession, Kairat Almaty posed a significant threat on the counter-attack, likely due to their experience from playing 20 league games and navigating three UCL ties. This sharpness allowed them to create scoring opportunities, frustrating the home fans. The situation worsened for Celtic when right-back Alistair Johnston was stretchered off in the 35th minute. Heading into halftime, Celtic had yet to register a single shot on target, highlighting the need for a significant improvement in the second half.

The impact of Brendan Rodgers' halftime team talk was evident as Celtic's tempo improved significantly after the break. Yang Hyun-jun, who replaced Adam Idah, quickly made an impact, setting up James Forrest for a promising shot that hit the post just 18 seconds into the second half. Despite the increased intensity, Celtic still struggled to find a way through Kairat's defense.

Celtic narrowly avoided disaster when a slip by Cameron Carter-Vickers allowed Edmilson to unleash a long-range shot from halfway. Although Kasper Schmeichel was forced to scramble, Edmilson's strike fortunately sailed over the bar and landed on the roof of the net. As Celtic's desperation intensified, Kairat's European experience allowed them to effectively disrupt the game's flow by wasting time and slowing the pace of the match on multiple occasions.

Liam Scales had a promising opportunity to score when he headed wide from Arne Engels' free-kick. However, the match was delayed again due to an injury to Kairat goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy. During this stoppage, the Celtic fans took the opportunity to express their frustration with the club's hierarchy.

Daizen Maeda's failure to capitalize on a big chance in stoppage time added to the frustration of the Celtic fans, who are now facing a tough task to progress to the next round after the 0-0 draw. The second leg will be played at altitude in Eastern Kazakhstan next week, making Celtic's challenge even more daunting.

For Kairat Almaty, this result is a significant achievement, giving them a great chance to reach the Champions League proper for the first time in their history. Although they have failed to win any of their last eight European away games, the 0-0 draw at Celtic Park puts them in a favorable position heading into the second leg.