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Celtic welcome Celta Vigo to Parkhead on Thursday with both clubs still searching for their first Europa League points and badly needing a win to get their campaigns moving.
Sunday’s seven-goal demolition of Hearts has lifted the mood around Martin O’Neill’s side. The challenge now is carrying that attacking threat into a competition which has offered considerably less encouragement.
Celta arrive in a similar position. They also won at the weekend, but successive European defeats mean there is pressure on the visitors to leave Glasgow with something.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Thursday night.
Celtic host Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on Thursday, October 22, with kick-off at 8pm UK time.
The match is live on TNT Sports, with current television listings placing it on TNT Sports 3.
Streaming is listed through HBO Max for subscribers with the relevant sports access.
Supporters can keep up with any changes through CeltsAreHere’s Celtic TV guide.
The Hoops have given themselves work to do.
A 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros was followed by last week’s 4-1 loss at Benfica. Seven goals conceded and no points collected is a damaging start, particularly after the disappointment of dropping out of Champions League qualifying.
Celta have also lost twice, going down 1-0 away to Omonia before Juventus won 2-1 in Vigo.
Thursday therefore offers both sides the chance to put their first points on the board while denying a fellow struggling team a much-needed result.
It is not a mathematical last chance. However, a third defeat would leave O’Neill’s men trying to rescue their European campaign with five league-phase matches remaining.
Back-to-back home games against Celta and Besiktas give Celtic an opportunity to recover. They need to make that home advantage count.
Callum Osmand’s fitness is one of the main issues to watch.
The forward scored twice on his first Celtic start against Hearts but was withdrawn at half-time after feeling his hamstring.
O’Neill explained that the substitution was precautionary, with Osmand’s previous injury problems influencing the decision.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the Hearts match, the manager confirmed the discomfort behind his withdrawal. His subsequent assessment was encouraging, saying the youngster “should be okay for Thursday”.
That gives Celtic reason for optimism, although it falls short of confirming his availability.
Cameron Carter-Vickers remains a concern with a muscular problem, while Alistair Johnston is also expected to miss out. Yang Hyun-jun is another player currently listed as unavailable, with his return still awaiting confirmation.
Jota will not be available for this match, despite his return to domestic action.
The winger’s latest fitness update was encouraging after his appearance against Hearts, but he was omitted from the Europa League squad.
That means O’Neill cannot turn to him on Thursday.
Landon Emenalo, Shim Mheuka and Joel van den Berg were also left out of the submitted squad, further restricting the manager’s options.
Sunday has given O’Neill plenty to consider.
The changes worked. Celtic were five goals ahead by the interval and finished with seven, producing the sort of clinical display that had been missing in Lisbon.
Provided Osmand is fit, there is a strong argument for giving that attack another opportunity. Høgh remains an alternative, but Sunday’s performance has made the decision considerably less straightforward.
Celta have received mixed news ahead of travelling to Scotland.
Pablo Durán has been medically cleared to return, having missed their last two matches with a calf problem.
However, Álvaro Núñez is set to miss the Celtic game because of discomfort in his left adductor.
Radio Vigo’s Tuesday injury update also lists Carl Starfelt, Borja Iglesias, Miguel Román and Jones El-Abdellaoui among Celta’s injured players.
Starfelt’s absence would deny the former Celtic defender a playing return to Parkhead.
Durán’s recovery gives Claudio Giráldez another option up front alongside Ferran Jutglà. AS reports that Durán could even start, while Celta have no players suspended for this fixture.
Celtic’s domestic results since the international break have been encouraging, with wins over Motherwell and Hearts coming either side of the Benfica defeat.
That European loss remains the concern. Celtic have shown they can hurt Premiership opponents, but they still need to prove they can defend well enough when the standard rises.
Celta’s recent results have also been mixed. They followed a goalless draw at Elche and the Juventus defeat with a 2-1 home win over Alaves on Sunday.
Their last five results are:
| Celtic | Celta Vigo |
|---|---|
| Celtic 7-1 Hearts | Celta Vigo 2-1 Alaves |
| Benfica 4-1 Celtic | Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus |
| Motherwell 0-2 Celtic | Elche 0-0 Celta Vigo |
| Celtic 0-1 Rangers | Celta Vigo 5-0 Racing Santander |
| Celtic 1-3 Ferencvaros | Omonia 1-0 Celta Vigo |
Both have won twice across those five matches. Neither has yet managed a European point.
Georgi Kabakov will referee Celtic v Celta Vigo.
Martin Margaritov and Martin Venev are the assistant referees, with Nikola Popov the fourth official.
Sören Storks will oversee the video assistant referee system, assisted by Robert Schröder.
Celtic confirmed on Tuesday that tickets remain available for Thursday’s match.
Prices start at £45 for adults and £32 for concessions, with a £1.60 booking fee per ticket. That makes the starting cost £46.60 for an adult and £33.60 for a concession.
There will be a sizeable travelling support.
CeltsAreHere reported Celta’s allocation as 2,600, while Radio Vigo expects nearly 3,000 supporters to make the journey to Glasgow.
The larger figure is an estimate of those travelling, rather than confirmation that all will have tickets.
The fixture also takes place against the backdrop of the Green Brigade’s boycott of European home matches.
The clubs met during Celtic’s run to Seville in 2002, with O’Neill also in charge then.
Celtic won the home leg 1-0 before losing 2-1 in Vigo, progressing on away goals.
That previous meeting is part of the attraction for Celta’s travelling supporters, with Radio Vigo recalling the welcome they received in Glasgow.
Twenty-four years later, O’Neill needs another home result against the Spanish side. Sunday has given Celtic confidence. Thursday will show how much of it they can take into Europe.