Celta Vigo Come From Behind to Beat Celtic 2-1 and Claim First Europa League Win

Celtic Park fell silent twice in three devastating minutes on Thursday night as Javi Rodriguez turned a Champions League atmosphere upside down. Celtic 1-2 Celta Vigo was the final score in the Europa League on October 22, 2026, and the comeback victory handed the Galician club the first three points of their league-phase campaign. What looked like a routine home win for the Scottish champions after Mika Baur opened the scoring two minutes after half-time became a famous away night for the Spanish visitors, and the UEFA roundup of matchday three listed the result among the standout comebacks of the evening.

Celta Vigo Celtic Europa League Result October 2026: What Happened

The first half in Glasgow produced no goals but plenty of warning signs for the hosts. Celta controlled long spells of possession without finding the breakthrough, and Celtic defended their box with growing desperation as the visitors moved the ball with confidence. The deadlock was broken in the 47th minute when Mika Baur struck for Celtic, catching the Celta defence cold immediately after the restart and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The response was ruthless. In the 68th minute, Javi Rodriguez rose highest to meet a Hugo Alvarez free-kick and powered a header past Sam Johnstone to level the score. Three minutes later, the same player drove a shot from outside the penalty area that beat the Celtic goalkeeper again, completing a brace in 180 seconds that stunned the stadium. Celtic pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Celta defended their lead with discipline and claimed a victory that felt fully deserved by the final whistle.

Key Moments From Baur 47th Minute Opener to Rodriguez Goals in the 68th and 71st Minutes at Celtic Park

The night turned on the tactical adjustment at half-time and the quality of the set-piece delivery. Hugo Alvarez had been one of the most dangerous Celta outlets from dead-ball situations all evening, and his free-kick for the equaliser was placed exactly where Rodriguez wanted it. The header was firm and accurate, and Johnstone had no chance.

The winner showcased another side of his game. Receiving the ball in space outside the box, Rodriguez struck early and cleanly, and the drive carried enough power to beat the goalkeeper despite the distance. It was the kind of goal that settles big European away nights.

Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu also played a decisive role, producing key interventions when Celtic threatened to restore their lead in the spell after the opener from Baur. His handling of crosses and his positioning on long-range efforts gave the back line the confidence to hold their shape.

Background and Context After Celta Defeats to Omonia and Jagiellonia and Celtic Pointless Run in Europe

The victory was badly needed. Celta had opened the league phase with a 0-1 home defeat to Omonia and a 1-2 loss at Juventus, leaving them pointless and under pressure after two rounds. The trip to Glasgow was widely seen as a defining fixture of their European campaign, and defeat would have left qualification for the knockout rounds a distant prospect.

For Celtic, the defeat deepened a miserable run. The Scottish side remain pointless after three Europa League matches, and they have now lost four straight European games, a sequence not seen since October and December 2017. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 European fixtures, and the defensive fragility that has haunted them on the continent was exposed again in the decisive three-minute spell.

Baur himself was brutally honest after the match. Speaking to TNT Sports, the goalscorer said: “How we played second half, last 30 minutes, we deserved it in the end.” Few in the away end disagreed.

Match Statistics

The numbers underline how thoroughly Celta earned the three points. The visitors enjoyed 56 percent of possession and attempted 22 shots, while Celtic managed only 8. The control of Celta over the tempo in the second half was absolute, and the shot count reflected a side that believed the winner was coming long before it arrived.

What the Celta Vigo Celtic Europa League Result Means for Celta Campaign and Celtic Manager Pressure

For Celta, the win revives the European campaign. Three points from three games keeps them within touching distance of the playoff places in the 36-team league phase, where finishing between ninth and 24th secures a place in the knockout playoffs. Momentum matters in this format, and a comeback victory away from home is exactly the kind of result that can transform a campaign.

For the wider LaLiga picture, the result continued a strong Thursday night for Spanish clubs in Europe. With Real Sociedad also winning big in Norway, the Spanish representation in the Europa League looks far healthier than it did 24 hours earlier.

For Celtic, the pressure on the manager grows. Pointless after three rounds and out of form defensively, the Scottish champions face an uphill battle to reach even the playoff round, and the home supporters who left early on Thursday made their feelings clear.

What Next for Celta With Domestic Action and Renewed Confidence and for Celtic With No Margin for Error

Celta return to domestic action with renewed confidence, and the manner of the victory will encourage the coaching staff ahead of the next European fixture. The league phase continues in November, and the Galicians will target another positive result to climb toward the playoff zone.

Celtic must regroup quickly. Three defeats from three leaves no margin for error, and the next matchday has become a must-win for their European season.

Key Facts on Celtic 1-2 Celta Vigo on Thursday October 22, 2026 at Celtic Park, Glasgow

Detail	Information
Match	Celtic 1-2 Celta Vigo, UEFA Europa League league phase, Matchday 3
Date and venue	Thursday October 22, 2026, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 21:00 CET
Scorers	Mika Baur 47 (Celtic); Javi Rodriguez 68, 71 (Celta)
Half-time score	0-0
Possession	Celta 56 percent, Celtic 44 percent
Shots	Celta 22, Celtic 8
Celta league-phase record	Won 1, lost 2, 3 points
Celtic league-phase record	Lost 3, 0 points
Celtic European run	Four straight defeats, first time since late 2017

Conclusion on Three Minutes of Brilliance That Turned Defeat Into a Famous Celta Away Win

Three minutes of brilliance from Javi Rodriguez turned a potential European embarrassment into a famous night for Celta Vigo. The 2-1 win at Celtic was no smash and grab; it was the reward for a controlled, confident performance that grew stronger as the night wore on. With the first win secured, the Europa League campaign is alive again, and the Galicians will travel home believing the knockout rounds are within reach.