Celta Vigo secured a commanding 2-0 away victory against a beleaguered nine-man Lyon in a dramatic UEFA Europa League encounter.
The Spanish side capitalized on Lyon's significant disciplinary issues at Groupama Stadium. Goals from Javier Rueda and Ferran Jutglà sealed a crucial win for the visitors on March 19, 2026.
This critical European knockout tie saw both teams eager to establish dominance. Lyon entered the match with strong recent form in the competition, while Celta Vigo aimed to upset their French opponents.
The game started with a cagey midfield battle as both sides probed for an early advantage. However, the dynamics of the match dramatically shifted in the 19th minute. Lyon defender M. Niakhate received a straight red card for a rough challenge, leaving the home side with ten men.
Celta Vigo immediately sought to exploit their numerical superiority, pushing forward with increased intent. Despite several attempts on goal, Lyon’s resilient defense held firm under pressure. The visitors accumulated yellow cards as the half drew to a close, with W. Swedberg and C. Starfelt cautioned.
Lyon faced an immense challenge at the halftime whistle, needing a heroic second-half performance. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, looked poised to convert their growing dominance into tangible goals.
The deadlock was finally broken by the visitors in the 61st minute. Javier Rueda fired a clinical shot past the Lyon goalkeeper, assisted by Hugo Álvarez, giving Celta Vigo a deserved lead. Lyon’s manager made tactical substitutions, including Roman Yaremchuk, attempting to regain some control.
Celta Vigo continued their offensive pressure, registering numerous shots on target throughout the second half. Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif delivered a commendable performance, making six vital saves to keep his team in the contest, earning him a high rating.
As the match approached its conclusion, Celta Vigo delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time. Substitute Ferran Jutglà expertly slotted home in the 90+2 minute, assisted by Javi Rodríguez, effectively sealing the victory. Further misery was heaped on Lyon when Nicolás Tagliafico received two quick yellow cards, leading to a second red for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 90+6 minute.
The statistics underscored Celta Vigo's complete control, as they enjoyed 65% ball possession and registered 14 total shots, with eight hitting the target. Lyon managed only four total shots, with a single effort on target. Celta Vigo's expected goals (xG) of 1.54 significantly outstripped Lyon's meager 0.24.
This comprehensive 2-0 defeat, exacerbated by finishing with nine men, leaves Lyon with a substantial hurdle to overcome in the return leg. Celta Vigo now holds a significant advantage in this UEFA Europa League knockout tie, setting up an intriguing second fixture.
