Celtic's chances of qualification in the Europa League were dealt a blow after a 0-0 draw against Hamburg.
But draw leaves them languishing in Group C
Celtic's chances of qualification in the Europa League were dealt a blow after a 0-0 draw against Hamburg.
The Hoops battled well throughout and on another night Tony Mowbray would have been happy with the result, but with Hapoel Tel-Aviv winning 3-0 at Rapid Vienna, the Bhoys now need other games to go their way in order to advance to the next stage.
Celtic did have their chances in a first half that was extremely open - goalkeepers Lukasz Zaluska and Frank Rost were both tested early on in a frantic start.
Barry Robson fired over after just four minutes from the edge of the area, before Scott McDonald was twice denied by Rost - however, Hamburg looked equally dangerous at the other end.
The home side pushed for a winner after the break and came close as Joris Mathijsen hit the bar from a corner before a David Rozehnal header was clawed out by Zaluska, but Georgios Samaras should have done better when he fired straight at the keeper when one-on-one.
Mowbray's men now need to beat Hapoel Tel-Aviv at home and Rapid Vienna away while hoping the Bundesliga side lose both their remaining games. It is an unlikely scenario.
The visitors were well aware of the magnitude of their task beforehand and the omens were not on their side.
Seven defeats and a goalless draw against Werder Bremen 21 years ago was the sum total of their last eight visits to Germany.
The home side forced two quick corners, before Zaluska conceded a third when he saved from Hamburg striker Marcus Berg's angled shot.
Open
However, the visitors survived and went on to have the edge for the rest of an open first half.
Moments later, Barry Robson's shot from the edge of the box was deflected over the bar but the Parkhead side were unable to capitalise on their corner.
As Hamburg fans chanted 'Glasgow Rangers' to be met by shouts of 'St Pauli' (Hamburg's local rivals) the game took a breather.
But in the 17th minute the visitors should have taken the lead when a surging run by Georgios Samaras ended when the Greek striker slipped the ball to the unmarked McDonald.
The Australia international was only 10 yards out but his curled attempt was parried wide by Hamburg keeper Frank Rost.
After Celtic defender Glenn Loovens carelessly gave possession away to Marcell Jansen in midfield, Zaluska needed to save from the German international's long-range shot.
Jansen tried from distance again, this time his left-footed drive speeding a yard wide. In the 33rd minute Celtic missed another great opportunity to forge ahead when midfielder Aiden McGeady played in McDonald with a clever pass which split the home side's defence.
However, Rost was quickly out to block the former Motherwell striker's drive before gathering at the second attempt.
Chance
Three minutes after the break, following Dennis Aogo's free-kick whipped in from the right, Joris Mathijsen's close-range header clipped the bar and went over the top.
In the 52nd minute, as Hamburg stepped up the pace, the keeper got a good hand to Eljero Elia's 25-yard drive, with captain Gary Caldwell clearing to thwart Pitroipa, who was waiting to pounce on the loose ball.
Referee Carballo then ignored loud penalty claims from the home fans when the ball struck Celtic defender Daniel Fox - television evidence proving inconclusive exactly where.
Elia shot wide as Celtic struggled to hold out an increasingly rampant Bundesliga side, before McDonald and McGeady were replaced by Marc-Antoine Fortune and Lee Naylor in the 58th minute as Mowbray reshuffled his side with left-back Fox moving to midfield.
As Celtic broke for the first time with purpose in the second half, Landry N'Guemo set up Samaras but his shot from the edge of the box was too tame to worry Rost.
A finely-balanced game continued apace and in the 73rd minute Zaluska made another fine save, this time from Hamburg defender David Rozehnal's point-blank header, after Aogo had fired in a corner from the right.
Niall McGinn replaced Robson two minutes later as Celtic pushed hard but a nervy ending to the game refused to produce a winner and the Parkhead side now need a football miracle to qualify.
