Lyon vs Celta Vigo Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Europa League | Round of 16
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
French Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyonnais finished at the top of the league phase but face a tough task against a strong Celta Vigo side in the round of 16.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Paramount+
Key stats
- The first leg was the first UEFA competition match between Celta and Lyon.
- Lyon’s record in UEFA two‑legged ties against Spanish teams stands at three wins and four defeats. Their latest encounter was in the 2018/19 Champions League round of 16, a tie they lost 5-1 on aggregate to Barcelona.
- Lyon have won four of their five previous round of 16 ties in the UEFA Europa League. Last season at this stage, they recorded a 7-1 aggregate victory over FCSB.
- Lyon have lost only two of their last 18 UEFA matches (W11 D5), and this season they have been beaten just once in nine Europa League games (W7 D1).
- Lyon are unbeaten in their last eight UEFA home matches (W6 D2), winning all four of their Europa League games at home this season.
- Lyon have won three and lost three of their six previous UEFA two‑legged ties after drawing the first leg away.
- Celta have already beaten French opposition twice in this season’s UEFA Europa League, defeating Nice on Matchday 3 and Lille on Matchday 7 — both 2-1 victories at home.
- Celta lost both of their previous UEFA two‑legged ties against French opposition — Marseille in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup quarter‑finals and Lens at the same stage the following season.
- This is Celta’s first season in UEFA competition since reaching the semi‑finals of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League. In that campaign, they defeated Krasnodar 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 (2-1 at home, 2-0 away).
- Celta have lost only two of their last ten UEFA Europa League matches (W6 D2) and are currently unbeaten in five (W3 D2).
- Celta have won six of their last eight UEFA two-legged ties.
- Celta have won one and lost one of their two previous UEFA two‑legged ties after drawing the first leg at home.
- Celta have lost only one of their last eight matches in all competitions (W4 D3).
Lyon vs Celta Vigo prediction
The first-leg saw Lyon manage to pinch themselves a draw against Celta at Balaidos. Celta went ahead via Javi Rueda before Borja Iglesias was sent off mid-way through the first-half before Endrick scored a late equaliser for the French giants.
Lyon are now winless in their last five matches across all competitions, ending what was a record-breaking 13-match winning streak under the management of Paulo Fonseca. Celta have been brilliant throughout the last couple of years and they remain in touching distance of UEFA Champions League qualification in La Liga after their 1-1 draw with Real Betis at La Cartuja the other day.
These are two of the stronger sides in this competition but both are out of form and there is a feeling that extra-time may beckon at Parc OL.
Lyon vs Celta Vigo tip: Draw
