IT was 100 up for Callum McGregor in Europe and full credit to the Celtic skipper for a memorable appearance tally.

But it was also a ton of anti-climax – with the Hoops failing to take the maximum points when an opposition side couldn’t have been more troubled in the build-up.

As it was, Celtic still racked up a reasonable clean sheet and moved to nine points – tantalisingly close to the double figure mark which most feel will be enough to secure a minimum play-off for the last 16 knockout stage.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Paolo Bernardo, Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi returned for the Celts.

Rodgers scorned at pre-match talk of Dinamo being in disarray.

But it was hard not think it as you considered their run of form and crippling injury situation.

Their coach Nenad Bjelica – his seven-in-a-row champions five games without a win and sitting third in the league – was faced with 13 players out, only four fit defenders and a subs bench made up of five from the youth team and two injured UNABLE to participate but needed to fill the quota.

Rodgers, however, wisely pointed to their Champions League record of seven points, only one behind the Hoops, and with wins over Bratislava and Salzburg plus a draw against Monaco.

Considering they were taken for nine by Bayern Munich in their opening tie in September, you had to admire Dinamo’s recovery.

But deep down even their boss knew that their remarkably challenging circumstances meant it was a huge task to overcome Rodgers’ full of belief side.

Celtic started this tie like the ball was theirs to do with what they wanted.

A 70-per-cent possession for the opening 10 minutes said it all – but while it’s fair to say Celtic controlled most of the first half, it’s also accurate to state there was precious little action where it mattered.

Dinamo were set up like you’d imagine a vulnerable team would – sitting deep, more concerned with not losing.

Any hope they got on the attack came from Celtic mainly giving the ball away but they couldn’t create much either.

That made for a seriously dull opening half at a dreadful venue not worthy of this competition.

Celtic’s first chance of any note arrived in the 15^th minute through a free-kick won by milestone man McGregor. Bernardo curled a right-footer wide from 22-yards but should’ve done better with the goalkeeper effectively sign-posting one side with his positioning.

The Hoops passed for fun and won corner after corner but couldn’t seriously trouble Dinamo No1 Danijel Zagorac.

The home team’s first sniff came in the 29^th minute, striker Sandro Kulenovic badly mis-hitting an attempted right foot volley in the box.

Celtic responded two minutes later with Nicolas Kuhn in behind the defence and from an angle in the box forcing a decent parry from Zagorac. Bernardo’s corner caused brief chaos before the Croats cleared.

4

4

But in first half injury time Dinamo – limited in their general play – suddenly carved out the game’s best chance.

Kulenovic, their only fit striker, volleying a closed range effort wide from Dario Spikic’s cross.

A turgid opening 45 minutes without a single effort on target, Celtic dominating possession and mediocre Dinamo having the two best possibilities.

It was crying out for Celtic to raise their game and properly take a grip of it.

A problem was Hatate’s ineffectiveness – either misplacing his passes or being caught on the ball and there was no hiding Rodgers’ exasperation with him in the technical area.

Alistair Johnston, who had been caught heavily, stayed in at the break – replaced by Tony Ralston – and that was worrying for Celtic ahead of Rangers next up Hampden.

Five minutes into the second half Kuhn darted clear, cut across the box in trademark style and unleashed a left foot shot which was goal-bound but was brilliantly deflected over by Maxime Bernauer.

It was Celtic errors giving Dinamo any joy and after some sloppiness Marko Pjaca had the time and space to unleash a point-blank shot which Auston Trusty superbly blocked for a corner.

But Greg Taylor gifted Dinamo another opportunity with a horror sclaffed clearance straight to Kulenovic at the edge of the box who quickly fed Martin Baturina.

The highly rated 21-year-old Croatia international could only shoot straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

It was another clear chance for Dinamo.

Celtic responded on the hour with a great Bernardo cross to the near post which a diving Zagorac got to ahead of Furuhashi, the ball breaking out to Carter-Vickers who blasted over from only 10 yards.

That was unquestionably Celtic’s best opportunity to then and the ref Felix Zwayer made it easier for the USA stopper with a corner decision that never was.

Rodgers threw on Luke McCowan and Arne Engles and McCowan soon tested Zagorac with a fine shot.

By the 72^nd minute mark the Celts boss had used his full sub allowance, with Adam Idah and James Forrest also on.

Dinamo were still every bit there for the taking but the Hoops were disappointing in the final third.

Celtic also continued to cause problems for themselves – too often inviting their hosts to counter them.

Ten minutes from the end a quality Stefan Ristovski cross to the far post picked out Pjaca and he sent an excellent header back across goal forcing a top Schmeichel save at full stretch.

In the final minutes an Arne Engels low ball across the face of the goal looked destined for Idah – only for the Irish striker to be denied by a magnificent tackle from Kevin Theophile-Catherine.

Celtic are another step closer to their cherished Champions League goal and that can’t be shrugged off.

But, you still couldn’t help feel it was a tremendous win possibility on the road squandered.

Read more at:….