Bologna have their own challenges

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I was chastised by a pal last week when I suggested the Europa League was an irrelevance right now.  “We are Celtic,” he said, “We have to be competing in every competition.”  Indeed.

Earlier in the season Bologna were riding high in Serie A and the Europa League.  A run of 12 games unbeaten put them in contention for a Champions League spot and qualification for the next round of the Europa.  The latter is still a nailed-on certainty, but only one Serie A win since November has seen them slip to 8th.  Form has pivoted south so abruptly you might be tempted to check if they recruited a management team from the MLS.

A win at bottom side Verona last Thursday provided respite, but (then) third from last Fiorentina took all three points when the teams met on Sunday.  This is not a happy time for football fans from the ancient city.

While form may be poor, Bologna are significantly stronger than any side Celtic will face domestically.  To leave with as much as a point will take our best performance since our last Europa League away game, in Rotterdam.  Some of the players’ confidence will be fortified by recent performances at Atalanta and Lazio – both better sides that the one we face tonight.  An interesting test lies ahead.

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560 Comments

  1. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Likely runners and riders:

     

     

    Hertz – league only.

     

     

    Huns – league and Scottish Cup

     

     

    Celtic – league, Scottish Cup and Europa.

     

     

    What odds for a Celtic clean sweep?

  2. P.S..Wish our Custodians could realise how performances like tonight

     

    Can unite our Celts support….from all over the world..

     

    Release the purse strings …Imagine what we could achieve ..With Quality signings.

     

    The ugly media will somehow turn tonights result as a failure……

     

    But they will never subdue the way real Celts feel ..Feckin Proud

     

    And that’s what keeps us going to the grave…….

  3. 10 men gaining a draw in Italy is nothing negative – even with spin ! Manager , Players and Fans have given their all – now it’s time for the board / bored to do their bit . It’s always a feeling they are a seperate entity ! its ALL in their hands

  4. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    “10 men gaining a draw in Italy is nothing negative”

     

     

    So would that be a positive?

  5. This might be a minority opinion but I could live with the Jambos winning the league if we came second and got to the semis of this competition.

     

     

    Long, long time ago but we used to be a big force in Europe.

  6. great point ( debrief piss take by the MO’N with Hatate ; f moi I would love to see that , it would make millions in leadership land).

  7. Rak-Sakyi looking likely. If it goes through, Balikwisha joining Liege on loan to try cover the wages and get him game time. Board stopped there yesterday on way over to Bologna to agree the terms.

     

     

     

    Go on shoot the messenger

  8. love it petethebeat – I thought , not long ago, that if Shankland goes on a run, we are fuggaroonied and they will win the league so I have come to a Buddhist vibe about 2026 season.

  9. We know we can add our on loan right back to the players available for Tynecastle, though both Colby and Tony did their part, and maybe big Tomas, possibly Kellechi an aw. Jamesie, and Stephen Welsh too. Slowly, surely, madly, we are getting a wee bit stronger, as we need to do. If we add 1-2 more to the Martin & Co squad we’ll be in good shape with 20 plus games to play. Remember there is only one SPL club going for five titles in a row, lets keep that message out there…

  10. And for all the trouble we’ve had this season, we’d be a much bigger force if CCV, Johnston and Jota were in the team.

  11. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Deniabhoy @ 8:43pm

     

     

    Good point.

     

     

    Hopefully they are on a flight in the next hour and in bed by 2am.

     

     

    I’d let them sleep late tomorrow and come into work in the afternoon for rubs and minor ailments as required.

     

     

    Saturday, I’d mirror the Sunday drill.

     

     

    Be ready at 8am for two hours travel, two hours prep and warm up, then two hours full on exertion.

  12. @Clunks if your still doin your uploads…

     

    I’m listening to Alphaville ..forever, just now

     

    And i imagine wee Jinky

     

    Any thoughts on songs for legends on days gone by….

  13. Whats wi aw the rest and recoop?

     

    That’s fir snowflakes, (plenty oan here) and buttercups…

     

    Get the players running up an doon the Campsies first thing ra morra…

     

    And tell them you do not know how lucky you are Bhoys…..

     

    That’s whits needed none o yir mollycoddling, tried that….didnae work

  14. Don’t know whether Daizen will still be here once the window shuts, but nobody can say he’s dialling it in.

     

    Immense effort once again.

  15. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    jackiemac on 22nd January 2026 9:26 pm

     

     

    did Bertie hit the crossbar in the ’67 final?

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    Yes.

     

     

    … as did Tommy Gemmell

  16. ‘over to my right, Ronnie Simpson, the celtic goalkeeper just sunbathin’, almighty f classic.

  17. glendalystonsils on

    THUNDER ROAD

     

     

    Daizen may not be the greatest technical player but he is the most energetic

     

    player with off the scale stamina that I’ve seen in over 60 years of watching Celtic .

  18. gassama is the most diving player I have ever seen – difference is the euro ref is having none of it . He deliberately puts his leg in front and dives. Scottish refs can see this too but always favor the diver! He should be getting booked – it’s cheating!

  19. Huge difference in the commentary between Celts game and the huns game.

     

    all pro hun at ibrox and all bologna at our match .

     

    Quite amazing!!!

  20. FC Ludicrous 1 FC Ludogrets 0

     

     

    The commentator gushingly hopes it’s the start of a strong finish to the domestic season for the tax-cheaters.

     

     

     

    FanDans RSC

  21. ~Quad….They are so fixed in the we are the peepul mode

     

    That every victory.. is the Team they thought they were…

     

    And wish they were….And never have been..