Celtic confirmed starting XI vs Bologna: 9 changes from low-key cup win as O'Neill makes bold right-back call
Martin O’Neill has named his Celtic starting line-up to face Serie A side Bologna in their latest Europa League clash in northern Italy
Martin O’Neill has named his Celtic starting XI to face Bologna for their penultimate Europa League clash at the historic Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in northern Italy.
There’s plenty on the line for both teams this evening, with the Italians aiming to nail down their spot in the play-off round and the visitors looking to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Serie A outfit have been in good form on the European stage this season with three wins, two draws and one defeat to their name from their opening six League Phase matches. They currently sit in 13th place, two shy of breaking into the top eight.
The Hoops are down in 24th with seven points on the board and progress to the knockout rounds will likely come down to the final round of fixture for the Scottish champions.
Team news: 9 changes, youngster given nod at right-back
O’Neill makes NINE changes to his starting line-up from the side that swept past Auchinleck Talbot 2-0 in the Scottish Cup last weekend.
Only skipper Callum McGregor and full-back Colby Donovan keep their spots, with the latter moving across from an unfamiliar left-back role to his favoured opposite flank. First-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel takes over between the sticks from Viljami Sinisalo again, while Yang Hyun-jun also gets the nod to start on the right wing.
Youth prospects Sean McArdle and Samuel Isiguzo are named among the substitutes.
What Sebastian Tounekti has said pre-match
“There have been some ups and downs and now I feel like we are on the right path. I feel like the group are together. And we just want to win games.
“As everyone knows, when you play for Celtic, you have to win every game, and everyone is understanding that. So of course it’s been difficult when we have lost.
“But I feel like as a group we are really strong and we just have to stay together. I feel like we are on the right path now and for us it’s just to keep going now, because we have so many important games upcoming now.
“As a winger, I want to produce goals and to make assists. And maybe I have lacked a little bit of that. So for me to score at the weekend was an amazing feeling. I just want to build on that.
“I just try to work really hard on the pitch with the coaches. We have so many great players in our team who I train with a lot. And I try to do some extra, try to improve every day, try to watch videos.
“And also I think maybe one of my main issues is that I haven’t scored the easier goals, like to be on the back post to score those goals. So that’s also what we’ve been watching videos about. Hopefully I can score more of those also.”
Here's your confirmed starting XI’s ahead of this evening’s European clash in northern Italy...
Bologna:
Lukasz Skorupski; Nadir Zortea, Torbjorn Heggem, Nicolo Casale, Juan Miranda, Nikola Moro, Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson (C), Jonathan Rowe, Thijs Dallinga, Benja Dominguez
SUBS: Federico Ravaglia (GK), Massimo Pessina (GK), Emil Holm, Riccardo Orsolini, Jens Odgaard, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Nicolo Cambiaghi, Martin Vitik, Davide Baroncioni, Luca Lai, Francesco Castaldo, Simone Negri.
Celtic:
Kasper Schmeichel; Colby Donovan, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor (C), Arne Engels, Reo Hatate, Yang Hyun-jun, Sebastian Tounekti, Daizen Maeda.