It was profligacy in front of goal that did for Celtic against Real Madrid on matchday one.

It was the same old story for Ange Postecoglou's men in the Polish Army Stadium against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday two.

The Aussie's troops plundered their first point of Group F after a 1-1 draw but the war cry is that the Hoops should have left Warsaw with all three.

For long periods of the match, Celtic dominated the Ukrainians but their Achilles heel on the European stage came back to haunt them.

Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda all passed up gilt-edged opportunities as Postecoglou's men were left to rue another frustrating night in front of goal.

Make no mistake though - Celtic acquitted themselves well and are looking every inch a comfortable team at European football's top table.

Postecoglou craves these kinds of occasions on a regular basis. The Aussie will know that his men will need to be more clinical and ruthless when it comes to chance conversion to make it so.

This felt like an acid test for Celtic at the elite level as they encountered their first Champions League game on their travels for five years.

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A match-up against Shakhtar in Warsaw was - on the face of it - a doable task despite the Ukrainians' 4-1 victory in Germany over Group F rivals for second place RB Leipzig.

Three away games in the Europa League last season yielded eight goals against the likes of Real Betis, Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros - yet just three points were taken on the road courtesy of a win in Hungary.

Some 12 months on it remains to be seen what lessons Celtic had learned from their previous Euro exploits.

Postecoglou threw a curve ball right from the off when he made two changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Real Madrid at home on matchday one.

The Aussie included Sead Haksabanovic in the starting XI at the expense oF Liel Abada. The Montenegrin was handed his first competitive start and what a platform he had to try to impress.

It was a bold call by Postecoglou.

The emphasis seemed to be very much on making his opponents focus on what his team were going to do as Celtic looked to impose their brand of football on Shakhtar straight from kick-off.

There was also the interesting subplot of Celtic lining up against one of their old boys in the shape of Marian Shved, who notched a double in the hammering of the Germans.

It was Celtic who came sprinting out the blocks with breakneck speed when Kyogo - in for Giakoumakis - jabbed a shot goalwards inside the opening few minutes. 

That was saved but it wasn't long before Reo Hatate opened the scoring with a deft touch after Haksabanovic had turned Josip Juranovic's wayward clearance into a fine pass.

It was a dream start for Postecogou's men, who never gave Shakhtar a moment's peace. However, Celtic's good work was all undone when Mykhailo Mudryk levelled from a swift Shakhtar counter-attack on 29 minutes as the visitors lost their way.

Celtic limped on until the break with the stalemate remaining and, after the restart, Postecoglou's men set about their opponents. 

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou convinced Celtic will get their 'just rewards' in Champions League

Jota twice embarked on solo runs and couldn't find the target. Giakoumakis turned on a sixpence and couldn't find the target. Maeda, on the stretch, couldn't find the target.

Celtic to all intents and purposes had bossed the game. The result was all that was lacking.

In fact, it is a measure of just how far Celtic have come under Postecoglou - especially in Europe - that a Champions League draw on their travels actually felt more like a defeat.

It's not hard to understand why the supporters are mightily proud of this Hoops team and their manager.

But all of a sudden the double-header against RB Leipzig has now become even more pivotal to their chances of qualifying from the group.

A point away from home is a real positive as it keeps the men in green and white very much alive and kicking in the section.

Speaking of Ps, Postecoglou will be well aware that Celtic will need to turn that profligacy into potency in front of goal.

A place in the knockout phase of European football's premier club competition will be riding on it.