Celtic winning in Bologna will be tough, but not impossible

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The Celtic Star

·19 January 2026

Celtic winning in Bologna will be tough, but not impossible

Next up for Martin O’Neill and his players is a trip to Italy to face Bologna FC 1909 in the penultimate Europa League group stage game, and if we have any realistic aspirations of qualifying, then we have to take something from this match…

Federico Ravaglia of Bologna FC looks dejected during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and ACF Fiorentina at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Celtic’s incentive in winning the game is clear. We’ll be just about there as far as the playoffs are concerned and can make sure at home to Utrecht who have had a wretched campaign, on the closing night of the group stages a week on Thursday.

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It won’t be easy of course, as the Serie A club are a quality side, but we can take heart and confidence from our last away performance in this competition, which saw us triumph in Rotterdam against Feyenoord after a terrific professional performance.

Players of Celtic pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

It was a different story last time out in Europe’s secondary competition, as we were well and truly humbled by Bologna’s fellow Italian side Roma at Celtic Park. However that loss was under the inept leadership of Wilfred Nancy, so this time out we should face the game with a different approach, be more tactically aware, and more up for the challenge, that you can guarantee.

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

We’ve not exactly been firing on all cylinders recently, but since the return of Martin O’Neill, he’s steadied the sinking ship as we’ve won three out three games, and all without conceding a goal. The difference in the squad under the Irishman compared to that of Nancy (a world class appointment by Michael Nicholson and recommended by Paul Tisdale) is night and day.

Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Our Italian opponents are not exactly on a good run themselves at the moment, and fell to a home defeat at the hands of Fiorentina on Saturday, meaning that they have only been victorious twice in their last eight outings, with one of those coming via a penalty shootout.

Nicolò Cambiaghi of Bologna FC looks dejected during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and ACF Fiorentina at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It will undoubtedly be a tough test, but one we are more than capable of overcoming. A draw wouldn’t be the worst outcome, but a win is what Martin O’Neill should be targeting. There really isn’t any reason why we can’t, we just have to believe, and perform the way we did in Rotterdam.

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