UEFA Europa League Gameweek 3
Celta Vigo 2 - 1 FT Nice
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Futmetrix Verdict
58
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Deportivo La Coruna
1-1
Real Betis
⚡ Intensity
43
⚖️ Balance
44
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
37
Late drama denies Betis away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
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
Ionuț Radu 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Manu Fernández 
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
95
Passes
8
Duels
Carl Starfelt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcos Alonso 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
86%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Hugo Álvarez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Fran Beltrán
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
71
Entry
Miguel Román
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sergio Carreira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
71
Entry
Forwards
Iago Aspas
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Pablo Durán
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
Bryan Zaragoza
MAGNET
56
Activity
56
Activity
43
Passes
13
Duels
BENCH
Iván Villar 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Óscar Mingueza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Javi Rueda
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Mihailo Ristić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Domínguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Javi Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ilaix Moriba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Franco Cervi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Damián Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo Sotelo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Borja Iglesias 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Ferran Jutglà
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nice
Goalkeepers
Yehvann Diouf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kojo Peprah Oppong 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Own Goal
Mistake
Own Goal
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Abdulay Bah 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Melvin Bard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Jonathan Clauss
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Tom Louchet 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
7
Duels Won
100%
Win %
Salis Abdul Samed 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Ali El Abdi 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Mohamed-Ali Cho 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Kevin Carlos
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Morgan Sanson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
BENCH
Bartosz Żelazowski
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Maxime Dupé
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Antoine Mendy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Laurenzo Monteiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sofiane Diop
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tanguy Ndombele
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Charles Vanhoutte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Djibril Coulibaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jérémie Boga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Isak Jansson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tiago Gouveia
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bernard Nguene
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Celta Vigo
Nice
Celta Vigo
Nice
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Europa League Ambitions Collide in Galicia
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. Nice's desperate scramble to reach the playoff places meets a confident Celta side looking to cement their continental standing.
The Setup
We head to Estadio Abanca Balaídos on October 23, 2025, for a crucial UEFA Europa League clash. Celta Vigo sit comfortably in 16th place, firmly inside the top-24 playoff line. They face a Nice squad languishing down in 33rd, desperate to salvage their European campaign. The French side's abysmal Form rating reflects a disastrous run of seven defeats from eight matches. Meanwhile, Celta boast a strong home record and a vastly superior tactical Balance on the pitch. While the overall Stakes might feel modest mathematically at this early stage for the hosts, it is essentially winner-takes-all territory for the struggling visitors. The home side's Stars are simply shining brighter right now, utilizing high-impact attacking play to punish weak defensive setups.
Key Battle
Expect a rather one-sided tactical affair. The home attacking unit will relentlessly press a fragile visiting backline. Nice have shipped goals far too easily this season, and Celta's frontline is perfectly equipped to exploit those sprawling gaps. If the visitors cannot organize their defensive shape early, the floodgates will inevitably open.
Our Prediction
Our verdict leans heavily toward the hosts. The visitors simply do not have the firepower or defensive resilience to compete on the road here. Expect Celta to control the tempo, pin their opponents deep, and secure a comfortable 2-0 victory to climb closer to the top eight direct qualification spots.