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.

Heroic display from Celtic as they take a vital Europa League point in Bologna