Celtic vs Utrecht

The atmosphere at Celtic Park will be electric tonight, Thursday, January 29, 2026, as Celtic welcomes FC Utrecht for the final matchday of the Europa League league phase. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET).

For the Hoops, this is a "must-win" finale. Currently sitting in 24th place (8 points), Celtic occupies the very last play-off spot. A victory ensures their survival in the competition, while anything less leaves them vulnerable to being overtaken by Ludogorets or several other chasing sides. For Utrecht, currently in 34th place (1 point), tonight is about pride as they have already been mathematically eliminated.

Match Information

Celtic: The O'Neill Resurrection

The "Martin O'Neill Effect" is back in full swing. Since returning for his second interim stint of the season following the brief, unsuccessful tenure of Wilfried Nancy, O'Neill has steadied the ship with an unbeaten five-match run (W3, D2). Despite a frustrating 2–2 draw with Hearts at the weekend, the team looks far more resilient than the side that struggled earlier in the campaign.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Crisis: The medical room is crowded. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota, and Kelechi Iheanacho are all sidelined.

• Suspension: Midfield engine Reo Hatate is unavailable following his red card against Bologna.

• Tierney Boost: In a major lift for the fans, Kieran Tierney was spotted back in training at Lennoxtown on Wednesday after a scare last weekend and is expected to start.

• Ineligible: New signing Tomas Cvancara is unable to feature due to registration rules for the league phase.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Donovan, Trusty, Murray, Tierney; Engels, McGregor, Nygren; Hyun-jun Yang, Maeda, Tounekti.

FC Utrecht: Playing for Pride

It has been a European campaign to forget for Ron Jans and his side. With six defeats and only one draw, Utrecht is fighting to avoid finishing at the very bottom of the table. Their recent domestic form is equally concerning, having lost their last five competitive matches, including a 1–0 defeat to Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Absentees: Attacker Victor Jensen is out until March. Defender Mike Eerdhuijzen is likely to miss out after limping off over the weekend.

• Haller Doubt: Veteran striker Sébastien Haller is listed as a major doubt, which could leave the goalscoring burden on Miguel Rodríguez.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Brouwer; Vesterlund, Didden, Viergever, Murkin; Engwanda, Dani de Wit, Bozdogan; Rodríguez, Ohio, Cathline.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Form

• Historical Tie: This is the first meeting between the clubs since the 2010/11 Europa League play-offs. Celtic won 2–0 at home back then, but was famously overturned 4–0 in the return leg in the Netherlands.

• Home Strength: Celtic is unbeaten at Parkhead in all competitions since Martin O'Neill's return in December.

• Utrecht's Away Woes: The Dutch side has lost all three of their Europa League away trips this season, scoring only one goal in the process.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Expect Celtic to start with high intensity, fueled by a desperate need for points. Arne Engels and Callum McGregor will look to dominate a Utrecht midfield that has frequently been overrun this season. Without Hatate, there is more pressure on Benjamin Nygren to provide the creative spark from a deeper role.

Utrecht will likely adopt a low block to frustrate the home crowd, but their defensive record suggests they will struggle to contain Daizen Maeda's pace for 90 minutes. Given Utrecht has nothing left to play for but pride, Celtic’s motivation should carry them through.

Final Score Prediction: Celtic 2–0 FC Utrecht