Bologna vs Celtic Prediction: Scots to exchange cards in Italy

Uefa Europa League outfits Bologna and Celtic, ranked 13th and 24th, respectively, in the 36-team league-phase table, meet at the former's Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Thursday (17:45 GMT, TNT Sports 2). The hosts will be targeting a win to boost their top-eight hopes, which would see them avoid a play-off tie, while the visitors will be looking for a victory of their own just to avoid an early elimination.

Below are my Bologna vs Celtic predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Federico Bernardeschi (collarbone), Jhon Lucumi (hamstring) and Martin Vitik (thigh) all look likely to miss out for Vincenzo Italiano's Bologna due to injury, while Eivind Fauske Helland, who recently joined from SK Brann, is unable to make his debut on Thursday for two reasons; the first being that he isn't registered in I Rossoblu's Europa League squad, and the second being that he is serving a suspenion for a red card he received in the competition against Fenerbahce last month.

Football Odds

Celtic's absentee list is as long as your arm.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Marcelo Saracchi, Kelechi Iheaneacho (all hamstring) and Jota (knee) are injured for Martin O'Neill's side, while Julian Araujo, who joined on loan from AFC Bournemouth earlier this month, is among those ineligible as he is not in the Bhoys' European squad.

Bologna vs Celtic Odds

Bologna, who have won three of their last four European matches (D1), are 8/15 favourites, implying a 65.2% probability of success, despite losing four of their last seven games (W1, D2) across all competitions.

Celtic, who have won all three contests since O'Neill retook the reins following Wilfried Nancy's dismissal, are 5/1, or a 16.7% chance, to follow up their 3-1 win at Feyenoord with another away victory in the Europa League.

The draw is offered at 3/1, while Celtic to Score 1+, Celtic 4+ Corners & Bologna 2+ Cards has been boosted from 9/2 to 6/1.

Player to Receive a Card - Colby Donovan (CEL) @ 12/5

If Nicolo Cambiaghi is playing, I'm always down to back his opposing full-back to pick up a booking.

The 25-year-old has been fouled 19 times across five appearances in this season's Europa League, averaging 5.9 per 90 minutes, and he's the third-most fouled player in Serie A (50 in 18 games), averaging four fouls won per 90.

Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash was booked for fouling the Italian in the first round of fixtures, while FCSB midfielder Octavian Popescu has also been cautioned in Europe for upending the Bologna winger.

Today's Football Fixtures

Even if Cambiaghi doesn't start, other Bologna attacking midfielders/wingers are skilled in drawing fouls from opponents, such as Jens Odgaard, Jonathan Rowe and Riccardo Orsolini, who have been fouled nine, four and five times, respectively, in this season's Europa League.

With Araujo ineligible to feature for Celtic, I'm expecting Colby Donovan, who shifted across to the left-hand side of defence for last Sunday's 2-0 Scottish Cup win at Auchinleck Talbot, to start at right-back in Bologna.

The 19-year-old has received one yellow in 10 Scottish Premiership appearances (four starts) for Celtic this season, while he's yet to be booked in five Europa League outings (three starts), although he's averaging 1.1 fouls per 90.

Against a winger as tricky as Cambiaghi, the inexperienced defender could be lured into making a card-worthy challenge on Thursday.

Player to Receive a Card - Lewis Ferguson (BOL) @ 9/2

Let's play into the narrative a little here.

A Scotland international, who spent four years in the Rangers academy, taking on Celtic - he'll be up for this one, surely?

Narrative aside, this is also a midfielder who picked up 43 yellows and two reds across his four league seasons at Aberdeen before making the move to Italy.

Across his first couple of campaigns in Serie A, the 26-year-old was cautioned 12 times, and after avoiding a booking in an injury-hit 2024/25 season, he's collected three yellows in 14 league appearances (nine starts) this term, averaging 2.1 fouls per 90. Despite not starting any of Bologna's last three matches, he's been booked twice.

In the Europa League, Ferguson has been shown a single yellow in six games (four starts), averaging 2.2 fouls per 90.

Celtic midfielders Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels are averaging 2.1, 1.7 and 1.4 fouls won per 90, respectively, so there are a fair few players whom Ferguson could go after on Thursday.

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