All of the focus turns towards a huge week for Celtic’s season.
Before their top-of-the-table clash against Hearts on Sunday, they must first deal with a Europa League game against Bologna.
Martin O’Neill guided the Hoops to a first continental away win since 2021 against Feyenoord and will need to take some inspiration from that performance on Thursday night.
Around 1,800 fans will be in the away end inside the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara cheering Celtic on but before that, here are five interesting facts about the Serie A side.
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I think the score between Bologna and Celtic will be
Bologna’s newborn tradition
Italian clubs are at the heart of their respective communities and want to integrate the next generation as soon as possible.
One way they have done that is by gifting every newborn in the city with a free home shirt so that they can form an immediate bond with the club and go on to support them.
A wholesome initiative that will ensure the club is always well-supported.
Bologna made Italian football history
Nowadays, many would associate Bologna as one of the sides slightly below the big guns in Italy, but they put their country on the map on the continental scene when it comes to success.
They became the first Italian side to win an international trophy when they lifted the Mitropa Cup in 1932.
This was before the likes of the European Cup and Champions League had been introduced and considered one of the most prestigious trophies to win at the time.
Bologna once went unbeaten in a league season
Celtic have been fortunate to go an entire league campaign without defeat, and Bologna have done the exact same.
Their invincibles season was way before the Hoops ever did, winning the Scudetto in the 1924/25 season.
To do this in any league is impressive, but Serie A is a real achievement.
How many points do you think Celtic need to qualify for the Europa League knockout phase?
Why Bologna wear red and blue
Red and blue are colours synonymous with Bologna and there is a simple reason as to why they play in that colour.
The city’s medieval coat of arms was red and blue and the Rossoblu wanted to keep the identity between the city and the team as strong as ever.
Local fans have a different name for Bologna
To all of us travelling, we know the club as Bologna FC. However, the locals have a different name.
It isn’t anything drastic, but Bologna fans simply refer to them as BFC.
They aren’t known by mascots or nicknames, purely down to personal preference.
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