Celtic faces FC Utrecht in a crucial Europa League match today, with the Scottish side's hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds hanging in the balance. The game at Celtic Park is the final hurdle in the league phase, and a victory for the Hoops would guarantee their spot in the play-off round.

Celtic currently sits in 24th position, the final qualifying spot for the knockout stages, holding only a one-point lead over the 25th-placed team. A win against Utrecht would secure their progression, while even a draw could be enough, depending on other results. However, a defeat would complicate matters significantly, requiring favorable outcomes in other matches to avoid elimination.

Under the guidance of returning manager Martin O'Neill, Celtic's form has improved, remaining unbeaten in their last five matches. However, they were held to a 2-2 draw against Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts over the weekend, preventing them from closing the gap at the top of the domestic league. O'Neill has emphasized the importance of additions to the squad during the January transfer window to bolster their chances in Europe. The club has already added Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo this month. Reo Hatate will be unavailable for selection due to suspension.

FC Utrecht, on the other hand, has already been eliminated from Europa League contention after a disappointing campaign. They sit near the bottom of the table with only one point from seven games. Their away form has been particularly poor, losing all three of their league phase matches and failing to win in their last ten major European away games. Utrecht's struggles extend to all venues, as they have lost their last five competitive games. Mike Eerdhuijzen is out injured after the weekend.

Despite Utrecht's struggles, Martin O'Neill has warned against complacency, stating that the Dutch side is still dangerous. He believes that with nothing to lose, Utrecht could play with freedom and cause problems for Celtic.

Historically, Celtic has a good record against Dutch opposition in Europe, winning their last two matches. The two sides last met in Europa League qualifying over 15 years ago, with each team winning their home leg.

Hot stats indicate that nine of Celtic's last ten home games have featured over 2.5 goals, while they have conceded two or more goals in eight of their last ten Europa League main-draw home games. Utrecht has struggled to score, particularly in the first half, and five of their seven league phase games have featured under 2.5 goals. Miguel Rodríguez has been Utrecht's main threat, scoring two of their three league phase goals.

With so much at stake, Celtic will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and secure the win they need to progress in the Europa League. The match promises to be a tense and exciting encounter as Celtic aims to continue their European journey.