UEFA Europa LeagueThursday, January 22, 2026Stadio 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. 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.
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