Ten man Celtic surrender a two goal lead but snatch a vital draw to keep Europa League hopes alive

Celtic stared down elimination, adversity and exhaustion in northern Italy and still emerged standing, as Martin O’Neill’s side battled to a dramatic 2 2 draw against Bologna to keep their Europa League campaign alive.

What began as a night of promise quickly turned into a test of survival. Celtic burst into the contest with fearless intent and were rewarded almost immediately. A costly mistake from the Bologna goalkeeper gifted Daizen Maeda an opening, and the winger showed sharp awareness to square the ball for Reo Hatate, who calmly finished to give the Hoops an early lead.

The visitors doubled their advantage before half time through Auston Trusty, whose powerful effort stunned the home crowd and left Celtic dreaming of a famous European victory on Italian soil. At that moment, qualification felt within touching distance.Then everything unravelled.

Hatate, Celtic’s goalscorer and creative heartbeat on the night, saw red after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession. The dismissal changed the entire complexion of the match. Reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the contest, Celtic were forced into a defensive siege against a Bologna side suddenly emboldened by numerical superiority.The pressure was relentless.

Bologna finally found a breakthrough when Thijs Dallinga struck to halve the deficit, sending a surge of belief through the stands. Waves of attacks followed as Celtic retreated deeper, their defensive shape stretched and legs tiring with every passing minute.

The equaliser arrived through Jonathan Rowe, whose finish completed the comeback and threatened to turn Celtic’s night into a European nightmare. From two goals ahead, the Hoops were now clinging on, their Europa League hopes hanging by a thread.

Yet what followed was a display of resilience that defined O’Neill’s tenure. Celtic dug in, throwing bodies in front of shots, clearing lines under pressure and refusing to fold despite the momentum swinging decisively against them. Every tackle was contested. Every clearance mattered.

The final whistle brought visible relief. The draw, though bittersweet after surrendering a commanding lead, could prove decisive in the bigger picture. Celtic remain alive in the competition and now control their fate heading into the final group match.

Victory against Utrecht in their last fixture would still see the Scottish champions progress, a scenario that seemed improbable when Bologna levelled the score and poured forward in search of a winner.

For O’Neill, the result encapsulated both the promise and fragility of his side. The attacking sharpness shown early on underlined Celtic’s quality, while the collapse following Hatate’s dismissal exposed the fine margins that define European football.

Still, survival was the priority, and Celtic achieved exactly that.

The Hoops leave Italy battered but breathing, their Europa League journey not yet over. One final match now stands between progression and elimination, and if this chaotic night in Bologna proved anything, it is that Celtic are not ready to bow out quietly.