00:00Welcome to today's Europa League match between Celta Vigo and Lille at the Estadio de Belaitos.
00:12Celta Vigo are flying high with magnificent domestic form.
00:15They have begun the year 2026 with three consecutive La Liga victories, scoring 11 times and conceding just once.
00:23This surge has propelled them to 7th place as they chase European qualification for next season.
00:27Their confidence at home is sky high.
00:31In the Europa League, their campaign has been inconsistent with three wins and three losses, leaving them 19th, just one point and one position above their visitors tonight.
00:39Lille travel to Spain in a starkly different mood.
00:41They have suffered three straight defeats to start the new year, including a loss in the French Cup and a 3-0 league defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last Friday.
00:49This poor run has seen them drop to fifth in League One.
00:52In Europe, their form has also dipped with three losses in their last four league phase matches.
00:57They desperately need a positive result to bolster morale and consolidate their own place in the playoff positions.
01:03Another defeat would put their progression at serious risk and mark an unwanted record of three consecutive Europa League away losses.
01:09The first minute of the Europa League clash between Celta Vigo and Lille brought an explosive start, as Williott Swedberg drove a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the net for the opening goal.
01:31The early action continued with a lengthy delay after an injury to Lille's Nabil Bentaleb, who was substituted in the 10th minute by Isamandi.
01:41Celta controlled much of the early play, with attempts from Borja Iglesias and Iago Aspas saved.
01:47The game's major turning point came just before the half-hour mark.
01:52Following a foul and a subsequent VAR review, Celta Vigo defender Hugo Sotelo was shown a red card, reducing the home side to 10 men.
02:02Lille pressed before the break, with Hacken Haraldson having a shot blocked, but they could not find an equaliser before halftime.
02:09Facing a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half, Celta Vigo adopted a deep and disciplined defensive shape.
02:17Lille dominated possession, and created a series of chances.
02:22Marius Broholm missed a left-footed shot from distance in the 55th minute, and the best opportunity fell to substitute Olivier Giroud in the 60th minute, whose close-range effort was brilliantly saved.
02:34Celta's defense, marshaled by Karl Starfelt, held firm through a series of Lille corners and free kicks.
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