UEFA Europa League League Stage - 3

Celta Vigo 2 - 1 FT Nice

Estadio Abanca Balaídos

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
59
FT
Thu, Oct 23
Celta Vigo
2-1
Nice
⚡ Intensity 63
⚖️ Balance 49
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Red card ruins Nice's European hopes.

Celta Capitalise on Ten-Man Nice in Grinding European Victory

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 59/100. A harsh first-half red card fundamentally shifted the dynamic, allowing Celta Vigo to turn their home advantage into a grueling siege that ultimately broke a stubborn French defence.

Early Trade of Blows

The home faithful at Estadio Abanca Balaídos barely had time to take their seats before their talisman struck. In just the second minute, I. Aspas found the back of the net, establishing a frantic Intensity from the opening exchanges. However, Nice refused to roll over. By the 16th minute, M. Cho silenced the Galician crowd, finishing off a sharp move orchestrated by S. Abdul Samed. The Balance of the tie looked completely even at this stage, with the visitors absorbing early pressure and responding with clinical precision on the counter.

The Red Card Catalyst

The match's entire complexion flipped in the 38th minute. A reckless foul from Jonathan Clauss earned him a straight red card, reducing the visitors to ten men and obliterating their game plan. From that moment, Celta Vigo dominated possession, ending the night hoarding 65% of the ball. The hosts pinned their opponents back, launching a barrage of 25 total shots and racking up a steady stream of corners. Orchestrating from the back, Marcos Alonso was instrumental in recycling the ball, keeping the pressure suffocating while Bryan Zaragoza terrorised the flanks.

Cruel Final Twist

The relentless siege finally paid dividends, albeit in the most agonising way for the visitors. In the 75th minute, the immense territorial advantage forced a defensive error, resulting in a devastating own goal from K. Peprah under heavy duress from B. Iglesias. The 2-1 victory vaults the hosts up the UEFA Europa League standings, solidifying their grip on a playoff spot. For the French side, the Stakes were already high, and this bitter defeat leaves them languishing near the bottom of the table. Our take: a textbook example of how one momentary lapse in discipline can unravel an entire European night, regardless of the initial Upset Factor.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Jonathan Clauss impact the match?

It forced Nice into a deep defensive block, ceding 65% possession to Celta Vigo and inviting relentless pressure that culminated in the late winning own goal.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
65%
35%
Celta Vigo 65%
Nice 35%
Shots
25
9
Celta Vigo 25
Nice 9
Shots on Target
6
3
Celta Vigo 6
Nice 3
Expected Goals (xG)
1.31
1.18
Celta Vigo 1.31
Nice 1.18
Passes
607
324
Celta Vigo 607
Nice 324
Pass Accuracy
91%
81%
Celta Vigo 91%
Nice 81%
Corners
7
4
Celta Vigo 7
Nice 4
Fouls
20
7
Celta Vigo 20
Nice 7
Yellow Cards
1
4
Celta Vigo 1
Nice 4
Red Cards
0
1
Celta Vigo 0
Nice 1

Match Events

2' I. Aspas
M. Cho (S. Abdul Samed) 16'
Jonathan Clauss 🟨 29'
Jonathan Clauss 🟨 38'
Jonathan Clauss 🟥 38'
HT
46' 🔄 H. Alvarez B. Iglesias
M. Cho A. Mendy 🔄 46'
Antoine Mendy 🟨 47'
Melvin Bard 🟨 65'
66' 🔄 P. Duran J. Rueda
M. Sanson C. Vanhoutte 🔄 70'
A. Abdi T. Gouveia 🔄 70'
71' 🔄 S. Carreira O. Mingueza
71' 🔄 F. Beltran H. Sotelo
75' K. Peprah (B. Iglesias)
78' 🔄 B. Zaragoza F. Cervi
80' 🟨 Manu Fernández
T. Louchet J. Boga 🔄 81'
Kevin B. Nguene 🔄 81'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Celta Vigo

Goalkeepers
I. Radu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
M. Fernandez
MAGNET
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
95
Passes
8
Duels
C. Starfelt
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Alonso
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
86%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
H. Alvarez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
F. Beltran
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
71
Entry
M. Roman
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Carreira
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
71
Entry
Forwards
I. Aspas
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
P. Duran
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
B. Zaragoza
MAGNET
MAGNET
56
Activity
56
Activity
43
Passes
13
Duels
BENCH
I. Villar
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
O. Mingueza
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rueda
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
M. Ristic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Dominguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Moriba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Cervi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Sotelo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Iglesias
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
F. Jutgla
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Nice

Goalkeepers
Y. Diouf
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
K. Peprah
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Own Goal
Mistake
Own Goal
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
J. Bah
SHIELD
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
1
Tackles
M. Bard
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
J. Clauss
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
T. Louchet
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
7
Duels Won
100%
Win %
S. Abdul Samed
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
A. Abdi
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
M. Cho
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Kevin
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
M. Sanson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
BENCH
B. Zelazowski
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Dupe
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
A. Mendy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Diop
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Ndombele
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Vanhoutte
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Coulibaly
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Boga
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Jansson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Gouveia
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Nguene
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 FC Midtjylland 3 9 8 2 +6 WMaccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 3 FC Midtjylland (23-10-2025)WNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)WFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
2 Lyon 3 9 5 0 +5 WLyon 2 - 0 FC Basel 1893 (23-10-2025)WLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)WUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
3 SC Braga 3 9 5 0 +5 WSC Braga 2 - 0 FK Crvena Zvezda (23-10-2025)WCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)WSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
4 Dinamo Zagreb 3 7 7 3 +4 DMalmo FF 1 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb (23-10-2025)WMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)WDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
5 Plzen 3 7 6 2 +4 WAS Roma 1 - 2 Plzen (23-10-2025)WPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
6 SC Freiburg 3 7 5 2 +3 WSC Freiburg 2 - 0 Utrecht (23-10-2025)DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)WSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
7 Ferencvarosi TC 3 7 5 3 +2 WRed Bull Salzburg 2 - 3 Ferencvarosi TC (23-10-2025)WGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
8 Brann 3 6 5 2 +3 WBrann 3 - 0 Rangers (23-10-2025)WBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
9 Celta Vigo 3 6 6 4 +2 WCelta Vigo 2 - 1 Nice (23-10-2025)WCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)LVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
10 Aston Villa 3 6 4 2 +2 LGO Ahead Eagles 2 - 1 Aston Villa (23-10-2025)WFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)WAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
11 Lille 3 6 6 5 +1 LLille 3 - 4 PAOK (23-10-2025)WAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
12 GO Ahead Eagles 3 6 4 3 +1 WGO Ahead Eagles 2 - 1 Aston Villa (23-10-2025)WPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)LGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
13 BSC Young Boys 3 6 6 6 0 WBSC Young Boys 3 - 2 Ludogorets (23-10-2025)WFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)LBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
14 Fenerbahçe 3 6 4 4 0 WFenerbahçe 1 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (23-10-2025)WFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
15 FC Porto 3 6 3 3 0 LNottingham Forest 2 - 0 FC Porto (23-10-2025)WFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)WRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
16 Real Betis 3 5 4 2 +2 DGenk 0 - 0 Real Betis (23-10-2025)WLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
17 Nottingham Forest 3 4 6 5 +1 WNottingham Forest 2 - 0 FC Porto (23-10-2025)LNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
18 Bologna 3 4 3 3 0 WFCSB 1 - 2 Bologna (23-10-2025)DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)LAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
19 Genk 3 4 1 1 0 DGenk 0 - 0 Real Betis (23-10-2025)LGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)WRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
20 PAOK 3 4 5 6 -1 WLille 3 - 4 PAOK (23-10-2025)LCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
21 Celtic 3 4 3 4 -1 WCeltic 2 - 1 Sturm Graz (23-10-2025)LCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
22 Panathinaikos 3 3 6 6 0 LFeyenoord 3 - 1 Panathinaikos (23-10-2025)LPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)WBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
23 Feyenoord 3 3 3 4 -1 WFeyenoord 3 - 1 Panathinaikos (23-10-2025)LFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)LSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
24 AS Roma 3 3 3 4 -1 LAS Roma 1 - 2 Plzen (23-10-2025)LAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
25 FC Basel 1893 3 3 3 4 -1 LLyon 2 - 0 FC Basel 1893 (23-10-2025)WFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)LSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
26 Ludogorets 3 3 4 6 -2 LBSC Young Boys 3 - 2 Ludogorets (23-10-2025)LLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)WMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
27 Sturm Graz 3 3 3 5 -2 LCeltic 2 - 1 Sturm Graz (23-10-2025)WSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
28 VfB Stuttgart 3 3 2 4 -2 LFenerbahçe 1 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (23-10-2025)LFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)WVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
29 FCSB 3 3 2 4 -2 LFCSB 1 - 2 Bologna (23-10-2025)LFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)WGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
30 FK Crvena Zvezda 3 1 2 5 -3 LSC Braga 2 - 0 FK Crvena Zvezda (23-10-2025)LFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
31 Malmo FF 3 1 2 6 -4 DMalmo FF 1 - 1 Dinamo Zagreb (23-10-2025)LPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)LMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
32 Maccabi Tel Aviv 3 1 1 6 -5 LMaccabi Tel Aviv 0 - 3 FC Midtjylland (23-10-2025)LMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
33 Nice 3 0 3 6 -3 LCelta Vigo 2 - 1 Nice (23-10-2025)LFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
34 Red Bull Salzburg 3 0 2 6 -4 LRed Bull Salzburg 2 - 3 Ferencvarosi TC (23-10-2025)LLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)LRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
35 Utrecht 3 0 0 4 -4 LSC Freiburg 2 - 0 Utrecht (23-10-2025)LBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
36 Rangers 3 0 1 6 -5 LBrann 3 - 0 Rangers (23-10-2025)LSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)