Bologna 2-2 Celtic – Mixed emotions, but a point well earned

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The Celtic Star

·23 January 2026

Bologna 2-2 Celtic – Mixed emotions, but a point well earned

Mixed emotions, but that’s a precious point well earned as Celtic edge towards play-off qualification…

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)

After a long, gruelling, nervy game, last night in Bologna, we can all be content with our efforts in earning a hard fought point. Goals from Reo Hatate and the superb on the night Auston Trusty helped us to earn a 2-2 draw, but in the end we were all left wondering the same thing, and that is a big what if.

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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)

What if Yang had made it two nil, what if Reo Hatate hadn’t been ordered off? It’s all ifs and buts of course, and if you’d offered us a point beforehand, we’d have taken it, but after leading 2-0 at the interval it does kinda feel like an opportunity lost.

That said after other results on the night we’re still firmly in the driving seat for a play off spot, and a win at home next week to Utrecht will see us book our place in the draw.

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)

The way we applied ourselves on the night against such decent opposition bodes well for the challenges ahead, not just in this competition, but for the title run in which is about to go full throttle.

The defence once more looked like a more solid unit, and were severely tested especially in a second half, which seen the home side dominate and throw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at a ten man Celtic side, buoyed on by a vocal home support.

Jonathan Rowe of Bologna FC scores the 2-2 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)

Kasper Schmeichel perhaps should have done better at the second goal, but it would be harsh to lay the blame solely at the door of the Dane, as he did produce a number of fine saves which proved vital in the end.

The Celtic support were as usual also in fine voice, and backed their side from start to finish, and gave the players a deserved round of applause at full time for their fantastic efforts on the night.

Arne Engels of Celtic FC competes for the ball with Tommaso Pobega of Bologna 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)

We may not have won, and were pulled back after taking a two goal lead, but in the end it was a worthwhile point in the grand scheme of things, especially when no one gave us much of a chance of getting anything on the night.

We understood that we needed four points from the remaining two games so taking home a point from Bologna keeps us on course for qualification and that can be achieved at Celtic Park on Thursday night against a Utrecht side already eliminated and seemingly having checked-out of the competition already.

Before that it’s Tynecastle on Sunday in a must win league match against Hearts.

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