Celtic salvaged a 2-2 away draw in Bologna despite going down to 10 men, exposing defensive fragility but showing resilience. Betting angle: consider both teams to score and Over 2.5 goals in similar fixtures; backing Celtic to qualify with a win against Utrecht looks good given their eight-point cushion.
Celtic cling to Europa League point after dramatic 2-2 draw at Bologna
Celtic surrendered a two-goal half-time lead but held on for a valuable 2-2 draw in Bologna, finishing the game with ten men after Reo Hatate was sent off. The result leaves Celtic on eight points, meaning a win against already-eliminated Utrecht at Parkhead would likely secure progression to the play-off round.
Early spark and costly red card
Hatate opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski played a loose pass to Daizen Maeda, who set up Hatate for a simple finish. The hosts threatened immediately afterwards, but Celtic doubled their lead shortly before half-time when Auston Trusty converted at the back post from a Kieran Tierney corner.
Hatate’s influence turned sour in the 34th minute when he was shown two quick yellow cards for a foul and then a reckless boot on Juan Miranda, reducing Celtic to ten men. The dismissal shifted the momentum and sparked a ferocious response from Bologna.
Second-half onslaught and Bologna fightback
Bologna dominated the second half, registering 37 attempts in total. The pressure produced a breakthrough in the 58th minute as Thijs Dallinga nodded home from close range after a cross was headed on by Jens Odgaard. The home side kept pushing, and Jonathan Rowe smashed in the equaliser in the 72nd minute after beating substitute Benjamin Nygren to finish into the roof of the net.
Kasper Schmeichel made several crucial saves to keep Celtic in the game as Bologna searched for a winner late on. Both sides had chances in the final stages: Johnny Kenny forced a save for Celtic, while Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolo Cambiaghi threatened at the other end.
Key moments and player impact
- Reo Hatate: opened the scoring but his red card was the turning point.
- Auston Trusty: scored the second and delivered key defensive blocks.
- Kasper Schmeichel: several important saves prevented Bologna from converting their dominance into a win.
- Lewis Ferguson: returned to captain Bologna but is still searching for his first win over Celtic in 17 attempts.
What the result means for qualification and betting considerations
Celtic’s draw keeps them in a strong position heading into the final group game at Parkhead. With eight points, a win against Utrecht should secure progress to the play-off round. For punters, the match underlined Celtic’s ability to grind out results away from home but also exposed defensive vulnerabilities—markets to watch include both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in Celtic away fixtures against attacking sides, while backing Celtic to advance with a home win over Utrecht looks sensible.
Tactical takeaways
Playing a forward like Maeda in a wing-back role late on highlighted Celtic’s adaptability under pressure, but the red card forced a more conservative approach and invited sustained pressure.
Bologna’s relentless second-half press exposed gaps that opponents will seek to exploit, emphasizing the importance of midfield control and disciplined defending in Celtic’s remaining group fixtures.
Italiano reveals two Bologna starters vs. Celtic but faces ’emergency’ in attack
Bologna 2-2 Celtic: Reo Hatate scored the opener and was then sent off for Martin O’Neill’s side, who squandered a two-goal lead but kept their qualification hopes alive.
The Independent
