Celta appeases Olympique Lyonnais and reaches the quarterfinals of the Europa League

RC Celta de Vigo won this Thursday 0-2 on their visit to Olympique Lyonnais in the second leg of the round of 16 in the 2025-26 Europa League, making good the 1-1 draw in the first leg and thus reaching the quarterfinal round, where they will face Genk or Freiburg.

In Lyon, Celta claimed a penalty in the first minute of play that seemed obvious due to Nicolás Tagliafico stomping on Javi Rueda’s left ankle, but which neither the field referee nor the VAR officials considered as something punishable. However, in the 19th minute Moussa Niakhaté was punished with a direct red card for a similar action against Javi Rueda.

With one more man, the visiting team gradually imposed its pace and on half an hour Williot Swedberg had the best attack opportunity with a low right foot inside the area, but which the local goalkeeper caught in two well-placed moments. After half-time, and with Claudio Giráldez having made two substitutions, Celta looked even better.

Hugo Álvarez left quality details on the left flank and in the 61st minute he made it 0-1 with another pass, which he channeled into a horizontal pass inside the Olympique area and which Javi Rueda finished off with his arrival from the far post. Seeing themselves below, the French had to increase their offensive pressure, but they showed their few resources.

Apart from a header without a reward from Corentin Tolisso, the local team did not bother the Celta goalkeeper who sealed their victory on the counterattack. In added time, and just after Iago Aspas had attempted a Vaseline, Ferran Jutglà found space to run almost alone to the opposite area and score the final 0-2 with a low left foot shot.