Bologna 2 – 2 Celtic

Celtic survived a Bologna fightback to take a vital point in their penultimate Europa League match and keep their hopes of progression alive.

It was a dream start for the Hoops in Italy as Daizen Maeda pounced on a goalkeeping error to set up Reo Hatate to open the scoring early.

But the goalscorer was then sent off after two quick yellow cards as Celtic's challenge grew more daunting.

Auston Trusty was solid at the back as the Serie A side piled on the pressure, with the defender then doubling the lead just before the break.

The hosts then launched wave after wave of attacks and Thijs Dallinga and Jonathan Rowe brought the match back to 2-2.

Martin O'Neill's side managed to hold on to a draw, however, meaning there is still everything to play for against Utrecht at Parkhead next week.

Hoops hold on for a priceless point

Hatate opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a gift from Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who passed the ball directly to center forward Daizen Maeda. The Japanese striker squared the ball for his compatriot to roll into an empty net.

Skorupski partially redeemed himself moments later by clawing Hyun-jun Yang's shot over the bar after Hatate's pass threatened to put Maeda behind. Liam Scales almost went home on the resulting corner.

The match quickly turned when Kasper Schmeichel made his first save, from Nadir Zortea, when Celtic were briefly reduced to 10 men as Maeda sorted out the problems with a contact lens.

The hosts kept up the pressure. Callum McGregor made a saving challenge following Hatate's sloppy play and Trusty produced a series of blocks and interventions in the penalty area.

Schmeichel knocked down a corner that threatened to go straight in and saved Juan Miranda's first goal well.

Hatate was booked for a foul on Lewis Ferguson before needlessly throwing a boot to catch Miranda in the 34th minute as the pair chased a ball heading towards the Bologna half. A red card followed and O'Neill also received a yellow card for his protests.

The Celtic fans were celebrating again five minutes before the break as Trusty scored over the bar at the back post after Arne Engels headed in Kieran Tierney's inswinging corner.

Schmeichel saved Tommaso Pobega's header and although Maeda missed half a chance, the second half quickly turned into an attack on the Dane's goal.

Schmeichel saved Ferguson's header and Nicolo Casale's volley before Benjamin Dominguez shot from the top of the bar.

The pressure paid off in the 58th minute when Dallinga got in front of Colby Donovan to nod home from six yards after Jens Odgaard headed in a cross.

Maeda was now playing as an extra winger as Celtic defended, but the pressure was relentless. The equalizer came in the 72nd minute as former Norwich winger Rowe made space on the edge of the area and avoided substitute Benjamin Nygren to smash a shot into the roof of the net past an immobile Schmeichel.

Celtic came out of their shell and had the opportunity to pull off an improbable victory. Substitute Johnny Kenny forced a save and could have played Maeda in on a counter-attack while Liam Scales had a looping header reversed.

The hosts also had chances and Schmeichel saved from Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolo Cambiaghi.

O'Neill restores Celtic's confidence

Sky Sports' Adam Bate at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara:

“What a game it was, Celtic can hardly count it as two points dropped given the circumstances. Bologna threw everything at them but they defended with such resilience – Trusty, in particular, magnificent.

“O'Neill has instilled such confidence in these players, it's hard to understand how this is the same team that was fading not so long ago. They now have a real opportunity to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

“Of course, this game will have taken a lot of work from them before that key clash with Hearts this weekend. But try telling the Celtic fans here in this stadium about it now.”

What's next for Celtic?