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. Other than height, I don’t see what Nygren brings to us for a backs to the wall situation.

     

     

    He’s slow, he can’t tackle.

  2. would have preferred Bernardo to nygren – nygren has no pace and cannot tackle. Nygren is a forward player – not a defender . Another poor decision from MON and Maloney!

  3. vale bhoy on 22nd January 2026 7:01 pm

     

    Other than height, I don’t see what Nygren brings to us for a backs to the wall situation.

     

    He’s slow, he can’t tackle.

     

     

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    Agree, he is an attacking midfielder.

  4. Just hoofing it up the pitch just brings on another attack. I wish they’d try to pass it around a bit.

  5. We are sitting back to far. 5 – 3 – 1.

     

    Otherwise their back three control everything and the ball keeps coming back.

     

    Bound to score after a while.

  6. the long wait is over on

    VALE BHOY on 22ND JANUARY 2026 7:12 PM

     

    Anybody think fergushun didn’t mean that?

     

     

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    A chokehold if ever I’ve seen one…

  7. No matter what happens now I’m happy with the performance. If we perform like this on Sunday we are in with a shout.