UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Omonia Nicosia 1 - 0 FT Celta Vigo
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
โ F. Jutgla โH. Gonzalez 56'
โ C. Driouech โW. Swedberg 56'
63' โ M. Tankovic โL. Brouwers
W. Swedberg 68'
โ H. Burcio โA. Febas 72'
โ P. Duran โH. Alvarez 72'
75' โ S. Coulibaly โA. Kakoullis
โ A. Nunez โB. Iglesias 77'
88' J. Balkovec
90'+3 โ Costa Ewandro โF. Tanase
90'+4 โ J. Montnor โM. Mayambela
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Omonia Nicosia
Goalkeepers
Fabiano 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Jean-Kรฉvin Duverne 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Senou Coulibaly 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
ฤฝubomรญr ล atka 
SWEEPER
7
Cleanups
7
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
4
Blocks
Jure Balkovec 
CLUTCH HERO
88
Goal Time
88
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.5
Rating
Midfielders
Panagiotis Andreou 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
91
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mateo Mariฤ 
MAGNET
77
Activity
77
Activity
73
Passes
4
Duels
Ewandro 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Muamer Tankovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Jaden Montnor 
NPC
91
Minutes
91
Minutes
25%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
Forwards
Loรฏs Diony 
GHOST
6
Actions
6
Actions
75
Minutes
6.3
Rating
BENCH
Pantelis Michael 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Thomas Kaminski
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Stefan Simiฤ
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Loรฏc Nรฉgo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Konstantinidis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Christoforou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luuk Brouwers
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Florin Tฤnase
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Angelos Neophytou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mihlali Mayambela
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andronikos Kakoullis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Christou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Celta Vigo
Goalkeepers
Ionuศ Radu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
91
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Javi Rodrรญguez
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
90
Passes
5
Duels
Carl Starfelt
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Marcos Alonso
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
88%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
รlvaro Nรบรฑez
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
38%
Pass Acc
Miguel Romรกn
MAGNET
61
Activity
61
Activity
58
Passes
3
Duels
Sergio Carreira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
91
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Couhaib Driouech
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
Forwards
H. Burcio
MAGNET
45
Activity
45
Activity
41
Passes
4
Duels
Pablo Durรกn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Ferran Jutglร
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
56
Entry
BENCH
Altay Bayฤฑndฤฑr
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Javi Galรกn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sebastiรกn Cรกceres
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Javi Rueda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yoel Lago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdoulaye Faye
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
Aleix Febas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo รlvarez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo Gonzรกlez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Williot Swedberg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Borja Iglesias
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Omonia Nicosia
Celta Vigo
Omonia Nicosia
Celta Vigo
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Balkovecโs Late Strike Shatters Celta Vigo at GSP Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 29/100. A defensive masterclass and a stunning 88th-minute sucker punch secured an unforgettable European night for the Cypriot underdogs.
Probing the Cypriot Defence
Celta Vigo arrived at GSP Stadium expecting to dictate terms, and they immediately set about pinning the hosts back. The visitors edged possession with 53% of the ball, repeatedly knocking on the door in the final third. A high Intensity rating reflects a relentless first half where Celta peppered the penalty area, racking up nine corners and mounting sustained pressure. Despite the bombardment, the Spanish side struggled to find a clinical finishing touch. Celtaโs attackers, including talisman Iago Aspas, found themselves consistently frustrated by a resolute home defence that simply refused to buckle under the weight of European expectations.
The Wall of Nicosia
The match ultimately hinged on sheer defensive grit. As the clock ticked down, the Balance of play shifted subtly from Spanish dominance into a gritty war of attrition. Omonia Nicosia relied heavily on the towering presence of Jean-Kรฉvin Duverne and Senou Coulibaly, who were absolute rocks at the back. Goalkeeping heroics kept the hosts alive, with a combined eight saves in the match frustrating the visitors to no end. Celta amassed 18 total shots, but a staggering eight were blocked by desperate Omonia bodies throwing themselves in the line of fire. This immense rearguard action nullified the threat and slowly drained the belief from the visiting squad.
A Dramatic Sucker Punch
Just as a goalless draw seemed inevitable, the ultimate Upset materialized out of thin air. In the 88th minute, J. Balkovec found a pocket of space and delivered a devastating strike to break the deadlock. The stadium erupted as the hosts snatched a 1-0 lead against all odds. Celta, having committed bodies forward in search of a winner, were left entirely exposed and had no time to mount a recovery. The final whistle confirmed a famous victory that will echo around the island, proving that resilience and taking your solitary chance can completely rewrite a European script.
Key Questions
What made Jure Balkovec the Man of the Match?
Balkovec anchored the defence brilliantly while delivering the decisive blow, scoring an unforgettable 88th-minute winner to secure a massive upset for Omonia Nicosia.
How dramatic was the late winner by Jure Balkovec?
Extremely dramatic. With the match deadlocked and Celta dominating chances, his 88th-minute strike stunned the visitors and sparked wild celebrations at GSP Stadium.
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.
A Tame Start to the European Campaign
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 74/100. An uninspiring matchday one fixture that struggles to command attention despite the long Europa League campaign ahead.
The Setup
European nights return to the GSP Stadium on September 16, 2026, as Omonia Nicosia host Spanish outfit Celta Vigo. With this being the opening round of the league phase, the Stakes are understandably low as teams merely begin their jockeying for a top-24 playoff spot. A deeply concerning Form rating indicates neither side comes into this clash firing on all cylinders. However, there is a silver lining for the tactical purist: a surprisingly high Balance score suggests the Cypriot hosts will not roll over easily against their La Liga opposition.
Key Battle
This match will be decided by how effectively Celta's midfield operators can dismantle Omonia's entrenched defensive block. The visitors will rely heavily on รscar Mingueza and Fer Lรณpez to dictate the tempo and thread passes through tight spaces. The home side must disrupt this rhythm and force turnovers if they are to carve out any meaningful chances on the counter.
Our Prediction
Celta Vigo holds the edge, but do not expect a classic. A rock-bottom Stars rating reflects the distinct lack of household names capable of turning this into a spectacle. We expect the away side to dominate possession and eventually grind out a narrow 1-0 victory, potentially unlocked late by the attacking instincts of W. Swedberg.