- Celtic take a significant step towards the Europa League knockout stage with hard-fought draw against the Italians.
- Reo Hatate put the visitors in front before being sent off in the first half, with Auston Trusty headed home to put Martin O’Neill’s side in dreamland.
- Hosts battled back after the interval to earn a share of the spoils thanks to goals from Thiys Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe.
Ten-man Celtic earned a priceless point at Bologna to take another huge step towards the latter stages of the Europa League.
Reo Hatate got the visitors off to a dream start within five minutes having been set up by Daizen Maeda after the striker pounced on a woeful pass from goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.
Hatate was then shown his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards within three minutes, but the hosts were stunned shortly before the interval as Auston Trusty prodded home at the back post to send the travelling supporters wild.
Bologna piled on the pressure after the break, and deservedly got back on level terms thanks to goals from Thiys Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe but were unable to find a winner as the Scottish champions ground out the result they were looking for.
Martin O’Neill’s men now head into next week’s clash against Utrecht in Glasgow knowing a victory will all but secure their passage to the next round of the competition.
Here’s how the Celtic players rated at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara…
Celtic players lapped up the acclaim of the travelling fans at full-time after grinding out a result
Reo Hatate’s first-half dismissal came after the Japanese midfielder had put the visitors ahead
Auston Trusty doubled Celtic’s advantage in the opening period and was a rock at the back
CELTIC (4-3-3)
KASPER SCHMEICHEL – 6: Pulled off a number of decent stops in the first half. Couldn’t do much about the hosts’ first but questionable at the leveller.
COLBY DONOVAN – 6.5: Had hands full coping with Dominguez but stood up to the challenge. Caught flat-footed as Dallinga headed home.
AUSTON TRUSTY – 9: A difference-maker in both boxes. One terrific block to deny Dallinga was shortly followed up with vital goal.
LIAM SCALES – 8: Got his head on everything all night and was in the right place at the right time to make several key interventions.
KIERAN TIERNEY – 6: Never looked comfortable up against the pace and trickery of Rowe. Wicked set-piece delivery led to Celtic’s second.
CALLUM MCGREGOR – 7: Made an oustanding last-ditch tackle to thwart Dallinga at 1-0. Saw little of the ball as Bologna upped the ante.
REO HATATE – 3: Went from hero to zero within half an hour. Put side ahead then picked up two needless bookings before the break.
ARNE ENGELS – 7: Calm and assured in possession, and not afraid to put himself about. A disciplined display from the Belgian.
Manager Martin O’Neill was delighted with the resilience shown by his side to earn a point
YANG HYUN-JUN – 6: Put in a tireless defensive shift in support of Donovan but circumstances rendered him ineffective in the final third.
DAIZEN MAEDA – 7: Relentless pressure had the Bologna defenders running scared. Forced deeper after the red card.
SEBASTIAN TOUNEKTI – 4: Looked a real threat in early stages but faded as the first half wore on. No surprise to see him hooked at the interval.
SUBSTITUTES: Nygren (Tounekti, 46), Ralston (Donovan, 77), Kenny (Yang, 77), Bernardo (Engels, 88).
MARTIN O’NEILL – 8: The man simply can’t do anything wrong right now. Couldn’t have asked for more.
BOLOGNA(4-3-3): Skorupski; Zortea, Casale (Lykogiannis 85), Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson (Cambiaghi, 73), Moro, Pobega (Odgaard, 56); Rowe, Dallinga, Dominguez (Orsolini, 73).
REFEREE: Vasilis Fotias (GRE) 7.
