Lyon vs Celta Vigo Lineups, Prediction, Team News, Injury And Preview

Lyon vs Celta Vigo Prediction: Lyon are expected to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg on March 19, 2026, advancing 3-2 on aggregate thanks to home advantage, Endrick’s rising form, and Celta’s key suspensions of Borja Iglesias and Oscar Mingueza.

Key Facts

• Lyon host Celta Vigo on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the Groupama Stadium in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg.
• The first leg ended 1-1 in Spain, with Javi Rueda scoring for Celta and Endrick equalizing late for Lyon.
• Borja Iglesias received a red card in the first leg and is suspended for the return fixture.
• Oscar Mingueza is also suspended for Celta Vigo due to yellow card accumulation.
• Lyon finished 1st in the Europa League league phase with 21 points from 8 matches, while Celta Vigo finished 16th with 13 points.
• Lyon have failed to win in their last six matches across all competitions.
• Celta Vigo are competing in European competition for the first time since 2016-17.

Match Overview

Detail	Information
Competition	UEFA Europa League – Round of 16, 2nd Leg
Date	Thursday, March 19, 2026
Kickoff	11:15 PM (local time)
Venue	Groupama Stadium (Parc Olympique Lyonnais), Lyon
1st Leg Result	Celta Vigo 1–1 Lyon
Aggregate	1–1 (All square heading into the second leg)
Lyon Manager	Paulo Fonseca
Celta Vigo Manager	Claudio Giraldez
Referee	TBC

Lyon vs Celta Vigo Preview

This tie is perfectly balanced at 1-1 on aggregate. Lyon hold a slight psychological advantage after snatching that late equalizer through Endrick in Vigo, turning what looked like a deficit into a level contest.

For Celta Vigo, the task is clear — they must score at the Groupama Stadium to have any realistic chance of advancing. Lyon, meanwhile, know that a clean sheet and a single goal could be enough to reach the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season.

Predicted Lyon vs Celta Vigo Lineups and Formations

Lyon Predicted XI (4-3-3)

Paulo Fonseca is expected to deploy his preferred 4-3-3 system, though injuries have severely limited his options.

Dominik Greif starts in goal behind a back four of Clinton Mata, Moussa Niakhate, Warmed Kango, and Nicolas Tagliafico.

The midfield trio of Lewis Morton, Corentin Tolisso, and Tanner Tessmann provides a blend of creativity and defensive discipline.

Up front, Vinicius, Endrick, and Roman Yaremchuk form the attacking trident.

Celta Vigo Predicted XI (4-3-3)

Claudio Giraldez faces significant selection headaches with two suspensions and multiple injury doubts.

Ionut Radu continues in goal.

The defensive line features Carlos Alonso, Carl Starfelt, Unai Nunez Rodriguez, and Marcos Carreira. Ilaix Moriba, Matias Vecino, and Javi Rueda anchor the midfield.

The front three of Williot Swedberg, Pablo Duran Fernandez, and Iago Aspas carry the attacking burden in the absence of Iglesias.

Injury Report and Suspensions

Lyon Injuries

Lyon’s squad depth has been hit hard. Pavel Sulc, their top scorer with 14 goals this season, remains sidelined with a hamstring injury — a massive blow to their attacking output.

Malick Fofana (ankle), Ruben Kluivert (muscle), Afonso Moreira (hamstring), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (adductor), and Ernest Nuamah (cruciate ligament) are all unavailable. Noham Kamara and Remi Himbert round out a lengthy treatment room list.

Celta Vigo Absences

Borja Iglesias serves a one-match suspension after his red card for an elbow on Clinton Mata in the first leg.

Oscar Mingueza misses out through yellow card accumulation. Ferran Jutgla (head injury) and Manu Fernandez (muscle) are both doubtful, while Miguel Roman is ruled out entirely.

Key Injuries That Could Shift the Game

The absence of Sulc for Lyon cannot be overstated. His 14-goal haul represents the kind of clinical finishing Lyon have desperately lacked during their six-match winless run.

On the Celta side, losing Iglesias — their physical focal point in attack — forces Giraldez to restructure his forward line entirely.

Pablo Duran Fernandez steps into enormous shoes, and his ability to hold the ball and link play with Aspas will determine whether Celta can sustain meaningful attacking pressure away from home.

Tactical Analysis

Lyon under Fonseca favor possession-based football with aggressive pressing in the opposition half.

During the first leg, they dominated territorial control but struggled to convert chances — a recurring theme during their recent slump.

The 4-3-3 allows Tolisso to dictate tempo from midfield while Endrick and Yaremchuk provide direct running in behind.

Celta Vigo’s approach in the first leg was pragmatic and disciplined. Giraldez set up his team to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, and it worked until the red card disrupted their structure.

Without Iglesias and Mingueza, Celta will likely sit even deeper and rely on the experience of Iago Aspas to create moments of individual brilliance.

The 37-year-old remains Celta’s most dangerous creative outlet, and his ability to find pockets of space between the lines makes him the player Lyon must neutralize.

Players to Watch

Endrick (Lyon)

The young Brazilian broke a four-game goal drought with his equalizer in the first leg. That strike could serve as a confidence catalyst.

His pace, directness, and willingness to shoot from distance make him Lyon’s most potent attacking threat in the absence of Sulc.

Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)

At 37, Aspas continues to defy age. His vision, passing range, and composure in front of goal make him the heartbeat of Celta’s attack.

With Iglesias suspended, even more creative responsibility falls on his shoulders.

Corentin Tolisso (Lyon)

The former Bayern Munich midfielder controls Lyon’s rhythm. His passing accuracy and ability to break lines from deep will be critical against a compact Celta defensive block.

Also Read Freiburg vs Genk Prediction.

Head-to-Head

Lyon and Celta Vigo have met just twice in competitive football. The most recent encounter — the first leg on March 13, 2026 — ended 1-1.

Their only other meeting came in a July 2023 friendly, which Celta won 1-0. The limited head-to-head record means neither side holds a significant historical advantage, making current form and tactical matchups far more relevant.

Celta’s last European campaign dates back to 2016-17, when they reached the Europa League semi-finals before falling to Manchester United over two legs.

That run demonstrated the club’s ability to compete at the highest European level, and Giraldez will draw on that institutional memory to motivate his squad.

Lyon, by contrast, are seasoned European campaigners. They reached the Europa League quarter-finals last season and finished top of the league phase this year with an impressive 21 points — seven wins and just one defeat in eight matches, scoring 18 goals and conceding only five.

Europa League Standings Comparison

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Points	Phase Finish
Lyon	8	7	0	1	18	5	+13	21	1st
Celta Vigo	8	4	1	3	15	11	+4	13	16th

Lyon’s league phase dominance is striking — the best defensive record in the competition with just five goals conceded. Celta’s 15 goals scored show they carry genuine attacking threat, but their 11 conceded reveals defensive vulnerabilities that Lyon must exploit.

Where to Watch Live?

Country	Broadcaster/Platform
USA	Paramount+, DAZN USA
UK & Ireland	TNT Sports 4, discovery+
France	Canal+ Foot, Canal+ Live 3
Spain	Movistar+, Movistar Liga de Campeones
Germany	RTL+
Italy	Sky Sport 258, NOW TV
Canada	DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada
Australia	Stan Sport
India	Sony LIV, Sony TEN, JioTV, tabii

Lyon vs Celta Vigo Prediction

Lyon’s home advantage and their late equalizer in the first leg give them psychological momentum, but their six-match winless streak raises legitimate concerns.

Celta Vigo’s suspensions weaken them significantly, particularly the loss of Iglesias up front. Fonseca’s side should find enough quality to edge through, though it will not be comfortable.

Predicted Score: Lyon 2–1 Celta Vigo (Lyon advance 3–2 on aggregate.)

Endrick’s growing confidence, Tolisso’s midfield control, and the Groupama Stadium crowd should tip the balance.

Aspas will likely find the net for Celta, but it won’t be enough to overturn the tie. Lyon progress to the quarter-finals for the second straight year — though their recent form suggests tougher opponents ahead will pose far greater challenges.

FAQs