- Both clubs have adopted similar hybrid formations (4-2-3-1/4-3-3) with different priorities. Celta focus on wing play and overload the flanks, Lyon prioritise controlled possession and overload in the middle third.
- Celta de Vigo (6th) have three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five competitive matches.
Gira’s Celta are a tough nut to crack
Claudio Giráldez has performed a minor miracle in Vigo, transforming Celta de Vigo into a dynamic, possession-based unit that mixes youth with experience and knows how to transition quickly and efficiently in the wide areas. No side in LaLiga or the Europa League has made it easier for opponents to play their game, but Celta have been almost impossible to break down at Balaídos in Europe this season.
After beating Mallorca 2-0 on the weekend and winning 2-1 at PAOK in their previous Europa League round, Celta will be fully confident of progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition. Celta are sixth in LaLiga with 40 points from 27 games, so it will be a real achievement for a club of their size if they reach the last eight.
Gira’s side have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five in all competitions, most recently the 1-2 home defeat to Real Madrid. Borja Iglesias is their main goal threat, but veteran Iago Aspas never fails to deliver when his side really need it and Williot Swedberg has been a major factor in the Europa League with key goals and assists in recent matches.
Lyon’s pressing game can be undermined
This is a finely poised tie and is likely to remain that way heading into the return leg in Lyon. Celta will expect a large away support in the French city in a fortnight and will want to make sure they give their fans something to cheer about.
Lyon are fourth in Ligue 1 with 45 points from 24 games, but Paulo Fonseca’s side have been in poor form of late, following up a 1-1 draw at home to Paris FC with a 2-3 defeat at Marseille. Corentin Tolisso is Lyon’s midfield anchor, running through the middle late in attacks and scoring goals from distance, but his side were undone by counter attacks at Orange Velodrome.
The visitors will make a counter-attacking game against Celta and look to press high up the pitch when they have the numbers, but Lyon will find it tough to keep Celta’s wings quiet for the full 90 minutes.
Endrick and Pavel Sulc bring pace and directness to the game when they come on.
Backing both teams to score - Yes at 67/100 looks the safest way to go here because both clubs have recent tendencies to score and concede in open play. The bookies odds of 59/50 for Celta and 127/50 for Lyon, with the draw at 263/100, are all about where the clubs are in the standings, but this tie will be more finely balanced than that suggests with both managers likely to err on the side of not losing the tie.
Expect an open game in Vigo
The weather will be mild and clear for this game, which should help the players take full advantage of the wide spaces on the flanks and in the central channels. The 2-1 home win looks the most likely outcome, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the draw land with a 1-1 scoreline because both managers will be wary of giving the opposition too much to counterattack against in the second leg.
Celta to win 2-1 at 59/50 is our main selection for this first leg of a Europa League Round of 16 tie between a couple of clubs that will cherish the chance to make a significant European milestone with a deeper run in 2025-26.
