Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 17:45; Thursday, TNT Sports
- UEFA Cup/Europa League group stages, game 7
- Tomas Cvancara signs on loan with option to buy.
- Scottish football contributes more than £800m a year to the national economy, according to a new report. The study by the Fraser of Allander Institute found that the professional men’s and women’s game, alongside the national teams, generated £820m during the 2023/24 season when fan spending was included.
- Martin O’Neill, along with assistant Shaun Maloney, scouts and chief executive Michael Nicholson held a transfer summit on Monday evening.
- Report: Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is on the radar of the Celtic board as they search for someone to take over at the end of the season.
- Reports:
- RB Leipzig are exploring a deal for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels and a January move is a possibility.
- Celtic and Lyon are interested in signing Jonas Wind in this transfer window, rather than waiting until his contract expires in the summer, according to reports in Germany, despite the 26-year-old Wolfsburg striker being sidelined until the end of January after undergoing an operation on a thigh injury.
- Celtic have joined clubs from the Championship, Spain, Turkey, Russia and China in monitoring 23-year-old Germany born centre-half Jamie Lawrence, who Austria Bundesliga club Tirol are open to selling during January.
- Celtic have been credited with an interest in 22-year-old Switzerland centre-half Aurele Amenda.
- Celtic, Stoke City and Swansea City interested in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, but Crystal Palace prefer a loan deal to include an obligation to buy while Celtic only prepared to proceed with an option to buy to reduce their financial risk.
- Celtic submitted a loan offer for Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba, with an option to buy.
- Valencia are competing with Celtic to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Switzerland defender Aurele Amenda, 22.
- Celtic are one of the many clubs showing an interest in WSG Tirol centre-back Jamie Lawrence, whose contract expires in June.
- Celtic have agreed a deal to Borussia Monchengladbach striker Tomas Cvancara
- Celtic and Stoke City have offers on the table for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, now the 23-year-old has been recalled from a loan at Turkish side Caykur Rizespor.
- Celtic are among the clubs interested in Xaver Schlager, with the 28-year-old Austria midfielder preparing to terminate his RB Leipzig contract.
- Celtic and Stoke City have offers on the table for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, now the 23-year-old has been recalled from a loan at Turkish side Caykur Rizespor.
- Transfers – January transfer window:
- In:
- Julian Araujo – On loan – 6mth
- Stephen Welsh recalled from Motherwell loan.
- Thomas Cvancara signs on loan with option to buy.
- Out:
- Hayato Inamura – Loan to FC Tokyo until the end of the 2025/26 season.
- Jahmai Simpson-Pusey loan cancelled early
Summary
“It’s a difficult game for us. We’ve left ourselves in a bit of a predicament trying to qualify in the top 24. “We probably need four points from two games, which is a difficult task. We’re going to throw everything at it and do our very best to get a result. “There’s plenty of focus on tonight. It’s a tough couple of games for us, but that’s the nature of European football. Big game tonight, big game on Sunday and big games until the end of the season.”
Martin O’Neill prematch
“The sending off had a major effect on the game. I thought we played brilliantly, got the goal and looked a really decent outfit – played some really great stuff. “I’ve seen the sending off back. Reo [Hatate] has caught the lad’s foot and maybe he should be a bit more careful having been booked. Even so, I thought it was pretty harsh and it put us on the back foot. “We spend all the second half defending. I thought the spirit they showed, the willingness to get blocks in and defend the penalty box was really splendid. “For us, it’s a different battle because of earlier results, but we’ve given ourselves a chance to get through and from that viewpoint, I’m delighted. My own view is that if we had stayed with 11 men, we would have won the game. “I think you have to be a bit careful. The ball was going out of play and I felt the referee couldn’t wait to get the yellow card out. “Given the circumstances, absolutely [a point gained]. We’re playing a good team trying to get into the top eight – naturally they’re going to put pressure on us. We showed a great resilience. “We have to win next Thursday, but even so, we’ve got a lot to think about before then.”
Martin O’Neill post-match
It’s a brilliant point, in the context of the game. Kasper Schmeichel will be disappointed with the second goal. He’s not in the set position I’d expect. He’ll say he was unsighted, but for a goalkeeper of his level, he was unbalanced and that’s why he couldn’t react. This game was about trying to keep momentum going. Martin O’Neill didn’t want to come out of this game with a lack of confidence, and instead it shows you the grit and collective effort in this team. He’ll be getting round them saying ‘what an incredible effort’.
Ex-Celt Pat Bonner
(joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki)
A topsey turvey match which saw Celtic ride the emotions that only sport can create. An early goal after a calamity from the Bologna keeper allowed Maeda to pounce to provide Hatate an easy goal. Close to a second from Yang soon after and Celtic had the game from the scruff of the neck. However, Hatate was sent off after a second yellow card in the first half in what some seemed harsh but really no one to blame but himself. Incredibly, Celtic soon went two up with Trusty scoring from a corner which took Celtic thru into half time.
However being a man down was inevitably going to take its toll as Bologna at home dominated in the Celtic’s third of the pitch. They fought back with two excellent goals but a genuinely spirited performance from Celtic just about kept the club in the game to earn a deserved point. Away in Italy is no easy place and Celtic with a point being down to ten men for the bulk of the game is a great result.
Trusty was a colossus tonight… He really came of age tonight,but also Schmeichel pulled off excellent saves and Scales was a rock too in defence.
WolfieBhoy of KDS – Today Calmed down a bit now. Tremendous battling peformance by some players – Trusty especially but also Scales, Maeda, Engels and Tierney worthy of mention. Badly let down by that pumpkin Hatate but also by some of the other players – Nygren and Kenny stand out here. You can forgive to an extent lack of ability (looking at you Ralston) but not lack of effort and an unwillingness to put in the yards, especially when you are down to ten men. I guess we saw what motivation and good man management can bring out of players and also who will never make it and should be shown the door. Having praised the management team for getting that performance from some of the players, I thought the Nygren substitution and rearrangement of the team to suit him was utter madness. A baffling change. Kasper went from the sublime to the ridiculous a couple of times. Poor at the first and terrible at the second but he also kept us in the match with some wonderful saves. We are now within touching distance of qualifying. A remarkable achievement given how poor our squad is and how fragile our starting eleven can be. Big decisions to be made before Sunday. Can you afford to drop Hatate and Nygren from out midfield? Can you afford not to?
fatboab of KDS: Great result, stoic second half performance.
I thought we sat far too deep in the second half, but maybe MON knows more than me.
Huge performances from our defence, and , bar their second goal, our keeper played well.
Hatate needs his baws toed for his petulance, and I hope he gets a move soon as he’s an empty jersey most of this season.
Our ‘ bare bones ‘ squad was exposed with the introduction of Ralston and Kenny, and Nygren looks like he doesn’t give one single feck most of the time.
Thought Tierney was awesome along with Trusty and Scales, and McGregor and Engels worked tirelessly.
Play with that determination on Sunday and we’ll get a result.
Teams
Celtic
Manager Martin O’Neill
Formation 04 – 2 – 3 – 1
01, K. Schmeichel
63, K. Tierney
05, L. Scales
06, A. Trusty
51, C. Donovan, subbed for A. Ralston at 77mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
27, A. Engels, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 88mins
23, S. Tounekti, subbed for B. Nygren at 46mins
41, R. Hatate, Yellow Card 34′, second yellow card so red card 34mins
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for J. Kenny at 77mins
38, D. Maeda, Yellow Card 27′
Subs:
31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
28, Paulo Bernardo
61, S. Isiguzo
24, J. Kenny
50, S. McArdle
14, L. McCowan
47, D. Murray
10, M. Balikwisha
08, B. Nygren
56, A. Ralston
12, V. Sinisalo
Goals:R. Hatate (5′)
A. Trusty (40′)
Assists:D. Maeda (5′), A. Engels (40′)
FC Bologna
01, Ł. Skorupski
33, Juan Miranda, Yellow Card 39′
14, T. Heggem
16, N. Casale, subbed for C. Lykogiannis at 85mins
20, N. Zortea
04, T. Pobega, subbed for J. Odgaard at 56mins
06, N. Moro
19, L. Ferguson (c), Captain, subbed for N. Cambiaghi at 73mins
30, B. Domínguez, subbed for R. Orsolini at 73mins
24, T. Dallinga
11, J. Rowe
Subs:
70, D. Baroncioni
28, N. Cambiaghi
73, F. Castaldo
02, E. Holm
71, L. Lai
22, C. Lykogiannis
74, S. Negri
21, J. Odgaard
07, R. Orsolini
25, M. Pessina
13, F. Ravaglia
41, M. Vitík
Goals: T. Dallinga (58′)
J. Rowe (72′)
Assists: J. Odgaard (58′)
Match Officials
Referee Vasilis Fotias
Video Assistant Referee Angelos Evangelou
Assistant Referee 1 Andreas Meintanas
Assistant Referee 2 Michail Papadakis
Fourth Official Alexandros Tsakalidis
Assistant VAR Official Bram van Driessche
Venue:Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
Attendance:23,791
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Bologna 71.3% Celtic 28.7%
Shots
Bologna 36 Celtic 8
Shots on target
Bologna 10 Celtic 5
Total touches inside the opposition box
Bologna 63 Celtic 12
Goalkeeper saves
Bologna 3 Celtic 7
Aerial duels won
Bologna 25 Celtic 24
Fouls committed
Bologna 8 Celtic 11
Corners
Bologna 16 Celtic 2
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Bologna 36 Celtic 8
Shots on target
Bologna 10 Celtic 5
Shots off target
Bologna 15 Celtic 3
Attempts out of box
Bologna 11 Celtic 0
Hit woodwork
Bologna 1 Celtic 0
Total offsides
Bologna 2 Celtic 1
Distribution
Total passes
Bologna 527 Celtic 236
Pass accuracy %
Bologna 86.7 Celtic 69.5
Backward passes
Bologna 74 Celtic 42
Forward passes
Bologna 144 Celtic 106
Total long balls
Bologna 59 Celtic 64
Successful final third passes
Bologna 216 Celtic 20
Total crosses
Bologna 68 Celtic 4
Defence
Total tackles
Bologna 10 Celtic 29
Won tackle %
Bologna 80 Celtic 58.6
Fouls committed
Bologna 8 Celtic 11
Total yellow cards
Bologna 1 Celtic 1
Total clearances
Bologna 19 Celtic 76
Clearances off the line
Bologna 0 Celtic 1
Articles
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ckgxq5xrp95t#Report
At a glance
Reo Hatate opens scoring before being sent off for a second booking
Auston Trusty turns in at the back post to give 10 men commanding lead
Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe level the game in the second half amid a flurry of chances
Celtic still in the hunt of progression with Utrecht in their final game
ByLiam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara
Ten-man Celtic battled their way to a priceless point in Bologna to retain hopes of Europa League progression.
First-half goals from Reo Hatate and Auston Trusty either side of a red card for the former had Martin O’Neill’s men 2-0 up at the break.
The hosts pinned the Scots back for most of the second half and scored through Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe.
But, the third goal never materialised and Celtic will attempt to secure their place in the knockout play-offs when they host Utrecht on the final matchday.
Bologna looked to seize the initiative early and looked comfortable on the ball before Lukasz Skorupski’s moment of madness, passing the ball straight to the lurking Daizen Maeda who teed up his compatriot Hatate to send the Celtic fans wild behind the goal.
A minute later and the Pole, who has been out injured since November, made a superb save to deny Yang a quick second for the visitors who settled after the opener.
I Rossoblu slowly began to take control of the game and Callum McGregor had to look lively to block an effort from Dallinga after a Hatate error. Trusty then threw himself at the Dutch international when another opportunity presented itself shortly after.
Celtic were under severe pressure by this stage with Kasper Schmiechel producing smart saves to keep out Juan Miranda and Tommaso Pobega.
Hatate then went from hero to zero, picking up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, first for a foul on Lewis Ferguson which had been preceded by a shirt tug, and then a cynical challenge on Miranda.
O’Neill was visibly furious on the touchline, but both decisions looked correct with the manager receiving a caution of his own.
However, despite that blow, the visitors grabbed their second six minutes later as Trusty stabbed home from a Kieran Tierney corner with the help of a crucial Arne Engels flick.
That insurance policy proved crucial as Bologna hemmed Celtic in for much of the second half with Benjamin Dominguez hitting the bar amidst a flurry of chances.
The hosts eventually found a way through with Schmeichel unable to keep out a Dallinga header just before the hour mark.
The one-way traffic continued and the excellent Rowe whistled a shot beyond a stricken Schmeichel who didn’t even dive for it.
Analysis: A case of what could have been for Celtic
O’Neill will be delighted with the resilience shown by his team in trying circumstances but will be frustrated about what might have been had Hatate stayed on the pitch.
Having just been booked, his decision to make the second foul was akin to madness and even though Celtic scored again after that, it proved crucial to how the rest of the match panned out.
However, those who remained on the pitch didn’t let O’Neill down with Schmeichel making some crucial stops and his outfield players putting their bodies on the line for the cause.
The bottom line is that Celtic remain in the hunt for a place in the knockouts with a home game against Utrecht, 10th in the Dutch top flight, on the final matchday.
What’s next for Celtic?
Next up for Celtic is a trip to Premiership leaders Hearts in what is their biggest game of the league season so far on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Match stats
Bologna are unbeaten across their last six matches in major European competition (W3 D3), their longest run since a seven-match streak between November 1968 and October 1971 (W1 D6).
Celtic have now failed to win any of their last four away matches in major European competition in which they’ve gone 2-0 up, drawing 2-2 with Lille in October 2020 and 2-2 with Bologna tonight and losing to 4-2 Milan in December 2020 and 4-3 to Real Betis in September 2021.
Bologna attempted 36 shots in total in this match, the joint second-most by any side in a Europa League game, behind only Wolfsburg vs Everton in November 2014 (39).
Reo Hatate is just the third Japanese player to record 3- goals in a Europa League season, after Takumi Minamino for FC RB Salzburg in 2018-19 (4) and Daichi Kamada in 2019-20 (6) and 2021-22 (5) for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Throughout 2025-26, Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has recorded eight assists across all competitions – the most of any Scottish Premiership player.
In what was Celtic’s 332nd match in major European competition, Reo Hatate became the first player to both score and receive a red card in the same game for the Scottish side.
In this match, Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson became the first Scottish player to play for a non-Scottish side against a Scottish team in the Europa League.
Callum McGregor made his 65th start in major European football for Celtic tonight, with only Billy McNeill making more for the club (69).
Heroic display from Celtic as they take a vital Europa League point in Bologna
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/january/22/heroic-display-from-celtic-as-they-take-a-vital-europa-league-point-in-bologna/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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22 Jan 2026, 7:47 pm
UEFA Europa League
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Bologna
BOLOGNA…2
(Dallinga 58, Rowe 72)
CELTIC…2
(Hatate 6, Trusty 40)
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side produced a superb performance in Italy to draw 2-2 with Bologna and gain a vital Europa League point.
The Hoops, who played for over half the game with 10 men following Reo Hatate’s sending off, scored twice in the first-half through Hatate and Auston Trusty, and dug in defensively after the break as they faced a Bologna onslaught.
Celtic could not have dreamed of a better start in the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with Reo Hatate making it 1-0 after only five minutes. Łukasz Skorupski, Bologna’s goalkeeper, played a slack pass straight to Daizen Maeda in the box, who slid the ball to Hatate for the easiest of finishes.
It could have been 2-0 moments later when Yang saw a powerful shot from close-range tipped over the bar for a corner before Maeda forced another save from the keeper from the set-piece.
Callum McGregor showed his relentless work-rate as he chased Thijs Dallinga all the way in to the Celtic penalty area and produced a perfectly-timed challenge to prevent a goalscoring opportunity.
The home side began to find their rhythm, with Celtic forced to be resilent at the back. Dallinga was denied again just moments later as Auston Trusty put his body on the line to block a powerful strike from the Dutchman.
Kasper Schmeichel had to be alert with just over 20 minutes of the match gone when Juan Miranda fired a low shot towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a cleverly worked corner, but Schmeichel read the move well and made the save.
Celtic were reduced to 10 men with half-an-hour gone after Reo Hatate picked up two yellow cards. The referee’s decision to show the second yellow incensed Martin O’Neill, who picked up a booking of his own as a result of his protestations.
Though the task ahead forCeltic had become a mammoth one, the Hoops doubled their lead just before the break.
Kieran Tierney whipped in a dangerous corner which was flicked on by Arne Engels and then met by Auston Trusty at the back post, who sent it in via the crossbar to make it 2-0 and spark sensational celebrations amongst the travelling Celtic faithful.
71%
Possession
29%
36
Shots
8
10
Shots On Target
5
16
Corners
2
8
Fouls
11
1
0
Cards
1
1
Martin O’Neill made one change at half-time, bringing Benjamin Nygren, Celtic’s leading goalscorer so far this season, on for Sebastian Tounekti.
Early in the half Bologna had a big chance to cut their deficit when Lewis Ferguson headed the ball towards the Celtic goal from close-range, but Schmeichel was able to gather the ball with ease.
And the Danish stopper was unfortunate not to prevent Thijs Dallinga’s goal just before the hour mark which made it 2-1. Celtic’s No. 1 got a hand to the Dutch forward’s headed effort, but the ball spun up in to the net.
Jonathan Rowe equalised for Bologna with just over 70 minutes of the match played when he struck a powerful effort through a crowd of players and beyond the Celtic keeper from the edge of the box.
The chances continued to come for the home side and Riccardo Orsolini went close to giving his side the lead with a header just before Martin O’Neill made further changes, bringing Anthony Ralston and Johnny Kenny on for Colby Donovan and Yang.
And as full-time drew closer, Kasper Schmeichel kept the scoreline level with an excellent one-handed save to deny Cambiaghi.
To the final whistle, the Celtic players fought hard to make sure that they did not leave Italy empty-handed and the final score of 2-2 secured what could prove to be a valuable away point in the penultimate match of the Europa League league phase.
Bologna: Skorupski, Zortea, Casale (Lykogiannis 85′), Heggem, Miranda, Ferguson (Cambiaghi 73′), Moro, Pobega (Odgaard 56′), Rowe, Dallinga, Domínguez (Orsolini 73′)
Subs: Holm, Orsolini, Ravaglia, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Pessina, Cambiaghi, Vitík, Baroncioni, Lai, Castaldo, Negri
Celtic: Schmeichel, Donovan (Ralston 77′), Trusty, Scales, Tierney, Engels (Paulo Bernardo 88′), McGregor, Hyunjun Yang (Kenny 77′), Hatate, Tounekti (Nygren 45′), Maeda
Subs: Nygren, Balikwisha, Sinisalo, McCowan, Kenny, Paulo Bernardo, Doohan, Murray, Forrest, McArdle, Ralston, Isiguzo
Auston Trusty: We showed great character to get a point in Bologna
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/january/22/auston-trusty–we-showed-great-character-to-get-a-point-in-bologna/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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22 Jan 2026, 8:11 pm
Auston Trusty praised the character of his Celtic team-mates following the 2-2 draw against Bologna in Italy tonight.
The American internationalist, who scored Celtic’s second goal of the game, produced a superb defensive display as the Hoops faced a Bologna onslaught, particularly in the second half as the Italian side looked to get a way back into the game.
Celtic had a 2-0 goal lead at half-time, courtesy of goals from Trusty and Reo Hatate, but the Japanese midfielder was sent off just after the half-hour mark after picking up two yellow cards.
It meant that a real backs-to-the-wall performance was required by Martin O’Neill’s side, and that’s exactly what they produced to gain a well-deserved and vital Europa League point.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Auston Trusty said: “That was my first goal in a European competition so it means the world to me.
‘I’m hungry for goals and I want to score more goals, and hopefully I can get more.’
“The result is something to build on and it reminds me a bit of the Atalanta game last year. It was that kind of defensive performance, trying to weather the storm.
“We were on our heels in the second half being down to 10 men but it shows the real character of this team.
“Everyone put in a shift and everyone put in tremendous effort to come here and get a point away from home.”
Manager: Players put their heart and soul into the match
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/january/22/manager–players-put-their-heart-and-soul-into-the-match/
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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22 Jan 2026, 8:29 pm
Martin O’Neill guided Celtic to another impressive away result in the Europa League as his side took a point with a 2-2 draw against Bologna in the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium.
Reo Hatate gave the Hoops an early lead before he picked up two yellow cards to be dismissed with just over half-an-hour of the game gone.
Auston Trusty scored just before the break to give the 10 men a 2-0 lead, but the second half saw the home side score twice to level the score.
However, Celtic remained resolute in defence to take a well-deserved point, and it was a performance which delighted their manager.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Martin O’Neill said: “It was a magnificent effort by the team. They put heart and soul into it.
“To play 60-odd minutes with 10 men and to show the sort of character that is supposedly lacking in this team – I don’t see it at all.
‘I see heart and desire in big waves and it’s really welcoming to see.’
“The sending off changes the course of the game in many aspects and there’s a long way to go, but the spirit of the side was terrific tonight and the crowd helped us the whole way through.
“It would have been a real shame if we had lost the game and the players were really out on their feet in the last 10 minutes, but they kept going.
“What it does for us, the point at least takes it into the final game and what we’ve done is given ourselves a bit of hope.”
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Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/i-watched-brave-celtic-against-bologna-5-extras-including-restored-star-hearts-issues-and-new-signing-5486737
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Published 23rd Jan 2026, 07:45 GMT
Updated 23rd Jan 2026, 07:49 GMT
Celtic grabbed a 2-2 draw in Bologna on Thursday night in what could prove to be vital point in their quest for Europa League progression.
Martin O’Neill’s men have eight points going into next week’s final league-phase game week and will reach the play-off round with a win over Utrecht at Celtic Park.
We pick out some talking points after the match at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Celtic’s players showed togetherness in Bologna.
Celtic’s players showed togetherness in Bologna. | Getty Images
Celtic’s spirit is back
You don’t have to be a detective to conclude that Celtic would not have won this match under previous manager Wilfried Nancy. For starters, they would have been set up in such an open formation that a team as talented and streetwise as Bologna would have taken full advantage.
Nancy’s successor O’Neill has swiftly organised Celtic into a coherent unit that can defend and attack. Square pegs are not in round holes. Players are asked to keep things far simpler.
And what that has given O’Neill is quick buy-in. Not that he probably needed it given he won seven games out of eight in his first caretaker stint. Yet this Celtic team is operating with far more spirit. They are fighting for each other and their manager. That did not seem the case under Nancy.
Celtic are back enjoying themselves again. There remain deficiencies but good old fashioned grunt work can mask some of them. The way Celtic, down to ten men, tackled and blocked spoke of a unit that is pulling in the right direction. They are fighting, scrapping to keep this season alive.
Auston Trusty delivered a show of strength at the heart of Celtic’s defence.
Auston Trusty delivered a show of strength at the heart of Celtic’s defence. | Getty Images
Trusty and Scales rewind to October 2024
One of Celtic’s best European performances of recent times also came in Italy, back in October 2024, when a catenaccio masterclass earned them a goalless Champions League draw away at Atalanta.
In that game, they kept a clean sheet but also had 11 men on the pitch. Bologna were always likely to score once they gained numerical superiority after Reo Hatate was sent off after 34 minutes.
Just like in Bergamo, when key centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers was injured, Celtic lined up in Bologna with Auston Trusty and Liam Scales at the heart of defence. And just like that night, the duo shone. Scales feasts upon the meat-and-potatoes side of the job and Trusty had one of those games where he threw his body at everything that came his way. It was a reminder why Celtic paid nearly £6 million for him.
Recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, there’s a high chance Carter-Vickers won’t play again this season. The Trusty-Scales partnership is set to remain for the foreseeable future. This performance should give Celtic fans heart that can give the rest of the team a solid platform to build upon.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda chased down everything in Bologna.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda chased down everything in Bologna. | AFP via Getty Images
Now on to Tynecastle …
Celtic touched down in Glasgow around 1am on Friday. There will have been some heavy legs trudging down the plane stairs given the amount of work the players put in.
Recovery will be key for the squad because Celtic have a huge Premiership match to take care of on Sunday. Six points adrift of leaders Hearts, they head to Tynecastle knowing that defeat would be highly damaging to their title defence.
O’Neill will be able to call upon right-back Julian Araujo, who was ineligible against Bologna. New striker Tomas Cvancara (more on him later) could be given his debut. But key men such as Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda played every minute in Italy and will need to go to the well again.
Hearts have not lost in 90 minutes at Tynecastle all season. Another enormous effort will be required from these Celtic players.
Tomas Cvancara, left, signed for Celtic on Thursday.
Tomas Cvancara, left, signed for Celtic on Thursday. | Getty Images
What to do with Cvancara
Celtic finally got their new No 9 on Thursday lunchtime when 25-year-old Czech internationalist Cvancara signed on loan from German side Borussia Monchengladbach. He will go straight into the squad for Sunday’s match in Gorgie.
What O’Neill must decide is whether to pitch Cvancara in from the very beginning. Maeda has such stamina that he can probably go again from the start, but he is more effective out wide. Neither winger Sebastian Tounekti or Yang Hyun-jun played the full 90 minutes, so they should be fresher than the men behind him.
Asking Cvancara to make an immediate impact in such a high-stakes game would be a big ask. He spent the first half of the season on loan in Turkey with Antalyaspor and has only completed more than a half of football twice since mid-September. He may not have the fitness to go from the very beginning.
However, Celtic need a proper striker. Johnny Kenny scored last weekend, but the young Irishman hasn’t shown enough so far this season that he can be the hitman this team can rely on in such a match. O’Neill warned before Cvancara signed that the Czech would not cure all ills – a cameo from the bench feels more likely even if options are thin on the ground.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel dives at the feet of Bologna’s Nadir Zortea during the 2-2 in Italy.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel dives at the feet of Bologna’s Nadir Zortea during the 2-2 in Italy. | AFP via Getty Images
A word for the goalie
Kasper Schmeichel has taken plenty of stick this season, so it is only fair that credit is given where it is due.
The veteran Dane was clearly discombobulated by Nancy’s approach to defending. He did not appear comfortable with a back three in front of him, nor did he know where to pass the ball. Schmeichel is old enough to shoulder responsibility for some of his displays – but he now looks back to something near his best.
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Celtic put every body part on line in Bologna as 36 Europa League shots fired
Celtic put every body part on line in Bologna as 36 Europa League shots fired
Celtic player ratings v Bologna: 9/10 star man, one 4, the trojan and man looking more like his usual self
Celtic player ratings v Bologna: 9/10 star man, one 4, the trojan and man looking more like his usual self
Comfortable on the ball in Bologna, he also made some very good saves against the Italians. His positioning and handling were sound and he built on the performance last time out for him against Falkirk.
He clearly has a strong relationship with O’Neill, who has spoken on more than one occasion on how highly he regards Schmeichel. The boss knows how crucial a good keeper can be Just look at title rivals Hearts (Alexander Schwolow, Craig Gordon) and Rangers (Jack Butland).
Celtic apology issued as Martin O’Neill has say on two players ahead of new signing decision
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-apology-issued-as-martin-oneill-has-say-on-two-players-ahead-of-new-signing-decision-5486744
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Sports Editor
1Comment
Published 22nd Jan 2026, 21:45 GMT
Updated 22nd Jan 2026, 22:29 GMT
Bologna 2-2 Celtic – Mark Atkinson reports
Manager makes 11-men claim as Europa League chances assessed
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill showered his “colossal” central defensive duo of Auston Trusty and Liam Scales with praise after they helped the Scottish champions earn a 2-2 Europa League draw at Bologna despite playing more than half the match with ten men.
Midfielder Reo Hatate opened the scoring inside five minutes after pouncing on a goalkeeping error, but he then picked up two yellow cards inside three minutes – the second a needless flick of the boot while chasing the ball with an opponent.
However, Trusty netted after a 40th-minute corner to double Celtic’s lead and while Bologna fought back to level amid some relentless second-half pressure, the visitors also had some chances to win the game before leaving Italy with a point that sets them up well for their final Europa League game. Victory over the already eliminated Utrecht at Celtic Park next Thursday would see Celtic move on to 11 points and secure a place in play-off knockout round.
Martin O’Neill lauded Celtic’s ‘colossal’ display against Bologna.
Martin O’Neill lauded Celtic’s ‘colossal’ display against Bologna. | AFP via Getty Images
O’Neill was quick to hail the displays of Scales and Trusty, who repelled shots and put in some crucial tackles. Bologna had 36 efforts on goal and had 84 per cent possession in the second period.
“Trusty was magnificent,” said O’Neill. “He was absolutely magnificent. As he has been in my time here and I’m sure before that. I couldn’t give him any higher praise than the performance he put in. He was absolutely magnificent, as were the team.
“He and (Liam) Scales have been really, really great as a defensive two for me during the time that I’ve been here. Trusty epitomised the spirit of the team. It was colossal, really colossal.”
Hatate says sorry to Celtic boss
O’Neill revealed Japanese midfielder Hatate was apologetic after his red card. “At half-time he was waiting for me, and at the end of the game,” he said. “You have to be a bit careful. It looked as if even the ball was going out of play towards me at the time. But I felt that the referee just couldn’t wait to get the yellow card up at the time. But I would think that anyway.”
O’Neill, who was booked for dissent after Hatate’s red card, continued: “Well, obviously the sending-off had a major effect on the game. I thought that we played brilliantly, got the goal and looked at a really decent outfit.
“We spent all of the second half, or most of it, and the last bit of the first half, defending. But the effort the team put in, the spirit they showed, the willingness to get blocks in, to defend the penalty box in the manner in which they did, I thought was really, really splendid.
“We’ve given ourselves a chance – that’s all, a chance – of qualifying. And from that viewpoint, I’m delighted. My own view is that if we had stayed with 11 men, I think we would have won the game.”
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Celtic put every body part on line in Bologna as 36 Europa League shots fired
Celtic put every body part on line in Bologna as 36 Europa League shots fired
Celtic player ratings v Bologna: 9/10 star man, one 4, the trojan and man looking more like his usual self
Celtic player ratings v Bologna: 9/10 star man, one 4, the trojan and man looking more like his usual self
Celtic now head to Tynecastle on Sunday for their crucial top-of-the-table clash with leaders Hearts. O’Neill will be able to call upon 25-year-old Czech striker Tomas Cvancara, whose loan move from Borussia Monchengladbach was confirmed on Thursday, and will have to decide whether to pitch him in against the in-form capital club.
“Of course it’s pressure,” Cvancara said of the fight Celtic face to retain their title, “but for me it’s no problem. When I joined, I knew what the target for the club is, and I know what the target for me is, and I will do everything for us to achieve it together. I’m ready.”
Celtic players proved in Bologna that they are up for a battle
By Conall McGinty 24 January, 2026 No Comments
Celtic fans in Bologna.
Celtic fans in Bologna. Photo Matt Corr
Celtic players proved in Bologna that they are up for a battle
Although many fans, and even our captain Callum McGregor, are disappointed about letting slip a two goal lead against Bologna FC 1909 in Italy, I feel that under the circumstances getting a point was a fantastic result…
If you had asked me beforehand would I have taken a point I would have snapped your hand off, and the way we earned it was even more impressive as we head towards one of the most important games of the season.
Celtic may have let a 2-0 lead slip away but the fact we had to play for an hour with ten men proves that it was a result we should be all happy with. Heading into the last two matches of the league stage in the Europa League we knew that four points were needed to secure our passage to the knockout phase.
Celtic celebrations after Reo Hatate opens the score.
Celtic celebrations after Reo Hatate opens the score during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
I wouldn’t have been the only one who felt like if we could get a point away in Bologna then we would be all set for a final round showdown against a struggling Utrecht side that surely the players must fancy taking three points from.
There was a huge opportunity on Thursday night to claim back to back European away wins for the first time since Martin O’Neill’s first stint in charge over twenty years ago, but that opportunity took a severe blow when Reo Hatate stupidly got himself booked twice within three minutes to leave us with a monumental task on our hands. The fact we were able to score again after that point should be applauded and we did well to hang on until half time.
Auston Trusty of Celtic FC celebrates
Auston Trusty of Celtic FC celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The second half saw a lot of backs to the wall type defending and I was impressed by how solid we looked defensively, an absolute world away from the nightmare we witnessed under Wilfried Nancy. All those players who helped us hang on for the point last night deserve great credit, including many who have had their willingness to fight for the cause questioned over these past few months.
I know that type of game will have taken a lot out of the players, which isn’t ideal before what could be a season defining game on Sunday. On the other hand however I think that type of gritty performance and result will have reminded the players that they are a lot better than they have shown this season, and could be the spark we have needed to ignite this team for the rest of the season.
Martin O’Neill salutes the travelling Celtic support.
Martin O’Neill salutes the travelling Celtic support after the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
A performance like that will do the world of good when it comes to building team spirit. I’ve no doubt Martin would have been using all his experience afterwards in the dressing room to praise the players and let them know that if they perform like that on Sunday they will walk away with all three points.
Watching that last night certainly filled me with hope regarding how this season might pan out. I have said in previous articles that this is one of the poorest Celtic squads in decades and I stand by that, and the blame for that has to fall at the feet of a board who have overseen the downgrading of this squad over these past few years.
Martin O’Neill head coach of Celtic FC
Martin O’Neill head coach of Celtic FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Last night however they showed that you don’t have to be the most talented Celtic team to achieve positive results. By sheer grit and determination, and pride in the jersey, they were able to withstand an onslaught for over an hour from one of the top teams in Italy.
If these players can display the passion they showed last night domestically for the rest of the season then I have no doubt they will be good enough to win the league.
Our challengers have done well to put up a fight this season but in all honesty we would probably be safely sitting at the top of the league with a decent cushion had we stuck with Martin O’Neill and stayed clear of Wilfried Nancy.
Celtic FC line up versus Bologna
Celtic FC line up during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
This team know what it takes to win titles, on Sunday it’s about playing with the pride we showed against Bologna and proving we are still the top dogs in Scotland.
A win at Tynecastle will not only be huge for Celtic’s confidence, it will also be a devastating blow to a team who have no experience of navigating their way through such an intense title race.
It’s time to show these pretenders just who it is they are up against.
Conall McGinty