In the end it comes down to this, Celtic require a victory tonight at a packed Celtic Park against Dutch side FC Utrecht, who have just one point to show for their seven games in the Europa League, to qualify for the play-off round of European football’s second tier tournament.
Celtic currently have eight points with four each being won by Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill while Wilfried Nancy failed to add to that tally with his one game in charge which was against Roma at Celtic Park in December. The Hoops are in 24th place going Into tonight’s game and the chasing pack can’t catch Celtic if they win this evening.
Celtic’s results fell off a cliff with the Frenchman in charge but things have bene stabilised by Martin O’Neill who may fancy taking his side into knockout European football once again and there’s a chance that after this evening if things go according to plan at Celtic Park, that could set up another meeting with Porto – now that would be something special!
Celtic Team News
Martin O’Neill will appreciate that he has three games in a week starting this evening with the vital league matches against Falkirk at Celtic Park on Sunday and Aberdeen at Pittodrie next Wednesday night to negotiate successfully with six points desperately needed.
Tonight’s match also comes on the back of the two 2-2 draws against Bologna a week ago and Hearts on Sunday at Tynecastle with Celtic being down to ten men in each game.
So an element of squad rotation this evening might add to the risk of failing to win the match but chances has to taken in the starting XI and use of the entire available squad over these three games.
Celtic this evening will be without the usual long-term injury casualties, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota and Callum Osmand while Johnny Kenny is a more recent addition to the Celtic injury list.
Two players however are back and available for this evening and hopefully Martin is in a position to start both Marcelo Saracchi (left back) and Kelechi Iheanacho (striker).
Celtic will also be without Reo Hatate (suspended) and January signings Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara who are ineligible as indeed is Stephen Welsh who hasn’t included in the Europa League squad due to his loan to Motherwell. Odin Holm has also returned to Celtic from his loan at Los Angeles FC but like Welsh he has not been registered for the Europa League by Celtic.
Here’s how Martin might opt for tonight in terms of his starting XI.
Kasper Schmeichel will keep the gloves behind a back four of Colby Donovan, preferred to Anthony Ralston, the usual centre defence partnership of Auston Trusty (who is suspended on Sunday after the appeal was rejected by the Scottish FA Appeals panel) and Liam Scales with the return of Marcelo Saracchi allowing Kieran Tierney the chance to rest up.
While both Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan will be in the manager’s thoughts he’s likely to retain the three from the weekend with Benjamin Nygren goal threat being an obvious reason for him to start. Callum McGregor as the skipper starts and more will be expect from him and also Arne Engels.
Kelechi Iheanacho returning through the middle allows Daizen Maeda to move the the left wing with Yang playing on the right wing.
Predicted Celtic XI to face FC Utrecht
Predicted Celtic Team: Schmeichel, Donovan, Trusty, Scales, Saracchi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren, Yang, Iheanacho and Maeda.
Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan; Murray, Ralston, Tierney, Bernardo, McCowan, Tounekti Balikwisha and Forrest with some room for one or two of the Celtic B Team lads.
Match Officials
For this evening’s Eupopa League matchday 8 match at Celtic Park between Celtic and FC Utrecht the on-field match officials come from Finland while the VAR team are from Italy.
The Finnish delegation of match officials is headed by referee Mohammad Al-Emara and he will be assisted by countrymen Turkka Valjakka and Mika Lamppu who will be running the Lins while the fourth official will be Peiman Simani.
The two Italian officials on VAR duties will be Gianluca Aureliano (VAR) and Marco Di Bello (Assistant VAR).
Mohammad Al-Emara had the whistle in the Hibs v Legia Warsaw match in the Conference League qualifier at the start of the season.
Kick-off Time
All of the matches in the Europa League this evening, including Celtic v FC Utrecht will kick-off at 8pm CPT*
Where to Watch
UCL ✅
Now it’s time for the league phase of the Europa League to conclude 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/DkKQ60AUaW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 29, 2026
As usual the Europa League matches are all live on TNT Sports 4 and discovery+. Coverage starts at 7.45pm.
Celtic v Utrecht will be live on TNT Sport 4 and discovery+.
If you are watching from outside of Britain and Ireland then there’s a full list of Where to Watch the Europa League: TV Broadcast Partners, Live Streams on the official UEFA website using this link.
*Celtic Park Time.
Scoreline Predictions
Conor Spence actually put together a score predictions piece earlier today where The Celtic Star writers (outside of the dance sitters) gave their predictions. You can read that HERE.
And a quick reminder…
It’s the last few days of the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop
All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…
Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?
