Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht – A win’s a win. All thoughts now on Falkirk

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The Celtic Star

·30 January 2026

Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht – A win’s a win. All thoughts now on Falkirk

A game of mixed emotions, but a win’s a win. All thoughts now on Falkirk…

Celtic v Utrecht, UEFA Europa League, League Stage. Back row (L-R) Sebastian Tounekti, Auston Trusty, Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren, Liam Scales, Kasper Schmeichel. Front row (L-R) Daizen Maeda, Yang Hyeon-Jun, Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney, Colby Donovan Photo: Kenny Ramsay. IMAGO / News Licensing

Celtic clinched our place in the Europa league play off rounds after defeating FC Utrecht 4-2, and will now play either Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros or Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart for the right to play in the last 16.

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On a cold and windy night in the East End of Glasgow we turned on the style in a sublime opening 20 minutes that saw us go 3-0 up thanks to Benjamin Nygren, an OG and a Arne Engels penalty, whilst Auston Trusty put the seal on a deserved win midway through the second period after heading in a corner not long after the Dutch side had clawed it back to 3-2.

We looked terrific in an attacking sense, but seemed to take our foot off the gas at 3-0 up, and invited Utrecht, who had nothing to play for but pride, to attack at us, and they got their reward as they fought their way back into contention, although Kasper Schmeichel once again, in my opinion, failed to cover himself in glory.

However it would be unfair to single anyone out on a night when our target were met, as the main objective was to get through and nothing else, and we clearly achieved that and deservedly so. Three points is three points at the end of the night.

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It was good to see Kelechi Iheanacho come back into the fold, and with Marcelo Saracchi also on his way back, not to mention new signing Tomas Cvancara also available things are starting to look up in the squad depth sense. We might even see some action in the transfer market today, Martin was more positive about our prospects in that regard in his entertaining post-match interview.

The team can be satisfied with a good night’s work, and that’s now six matches undefeated for Martin O’Neill in his second interim spell in charge, so we are in a very good place at the moment.

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

All thoughts are now on domestic action, with Falkirk visiting Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon, and like every game it’s a must win, but with the pressure well and truly on in the title race, the game against the inform Bairns will be all that more intense. Our two title rivals will have played their games with Hearts away to Dundee United on Saturday and theRangers – who exited Europe last night with a 3-1 defeat away to Porto – at Easter in the early kick-off.

We’ll therefore know exactly where we start and hopefully there are some points dropped in both those matches by our title rivals and that would certainly give us a boost. If they both win we will understand very clearly indeed that we must also secure the three points.

Falkirk are in a good place at the moment, with John McGlynn having his side playing some lovely football. They certainly gave Celtic a difficult night in our recent visit to the Falkirk stadium but Sunday’s game is at Paradise and is clearly one we should all be relishing ahead of the midweek trip to Pittodrie.

Julian Araujo of Celtic celebrates during the Scottish Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Celtic at Tynecastle Park on January 25, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

There definitely a case for rotating the squad on Sunday. January signings Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara should come into the team and Kelechi Iheanacho should get some more minutes. With Auston Trusty getting an enforced rest thanks to the skullduggery from the SFA, Dane Murray should come in to play alongside Liam Scales – assuming Steven Welsh is likely to be heading back to Motherwell.

Reo Hatate of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Reo Hatate has had a chance to reflect on his sending off in Bologna and while he is the subject of transfer speculation, if he’s staying then he should start on Sunday. Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and James Forrest should also get some time to allow as fresh as possible a starting XI at Pittodrie.

I’d do with the following starting XI against Falkirk…

Celtic and Utrecht players shake hands before kick off. Celtic v Utrecht, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Celtic Park, 29 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

Schmeichel; Araujo, Murray, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Yang, Cvancara and Maeda.

Don’t forget to read Sandman’s Definitive Ratings, up now on The Celtic Star….

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Uterus

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Sale Ends Sunday…

It’s the last few days of the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…

Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?