Match Preview

The UEFA Europa League 2025/26 – League Phase reaches its final and decisive Matchday 8 as Crvena Zvezda welcome Celta Vigo to the famous Stadion Rajko Mitic in Belgrade. With all 36 teams ranked together in a single league table under the new “Swiss-style” format, every point still matters – for knockout qualification, seeding and European prestige.

Celta Vigo arrive in Serbia having impressed in their first Europa League league-phase campaign under the new format. After five matches they have collected 9 points from 3 wins and 2 defeats, scoring 11 goals and conceding 7, which leaves them just inside the top section of the table and firmly in the race for a strong knockout seeding. Their run has included eye-catching away wins, such as a 3–0 victory at Dinamo Zagreb, and plenty of attacking football.

Crvena Zvezda, meanwhile, have produced a solid if slightly uneven league-phase campaign. They sit on 7 points from 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats, with a goal record of 4 scored and 5 conceded. What stands out is their excellent home form in Europe so far: tight, controlled wins over Lille and FCSB in Belgrade have underlined how difficult they are to break down in front of their own fans.

Tactically, this game looks like a clash between Crvena Zvezda’s disciplined structure at home and Celta’s more open, dynamic attacking style. Zvezda are likely to stay compact, rely on a hard-working midfield and look for moments to spring forward, particularly through wide areas and quick combinations around the box. Celta, on the other hand, usually try to impose themselves with the ball, playing at a high tempo and using runners from midfield to overload spaces between the lines.

With both clubs still very much alive in the qualification and seeding battle, this fixture in Belgrade promises to be intense. A win for Crvena Zvezda could catapult them into a much stronger position in the table, while victory for Celta would confirm their status as one of the more dangerous sides in this season’s Europa League league phase.

TV Broadcast and Livestreams

The Crvena Zvezda vs Celta Vigo clash will be broadcast by a range of official Europa League partners across the world. In many European countries, coverage is expected on platforms such as TNT Sports or DAZN, while other territories may carry the match on ESPN, beIN Sports, Paramount+ or local rights holders. Fans should always check their local TV listings and official competition guides to confirm which channel or streaming service will show the match in their region.

Match Information

Form Guide and League-Phase Records

Celta Vigo: Celta’s league-phase run has been characterised by high-scoring games and strong away performances. A statement 3–0 win at Dinamo Zagreb showed how dangerous they can be on their travels, and they’ve also found the net regularly in La Liga, even in defeat. The main concern is defensive balance – when they commit numbers forward, they can sometimes leave too much space at the back.

Crvena Zvezda: The Serbian champions have been extremely tough to beat at home during this Europa League campaign. Narrow but deserved wins over Lille and FCSB, both by a 1–0 scoreline, underline their ability to manage tight games in Belgrade. Away from home, results have been less stable, but in front of their own supporters they tend to keep things organised and limit clear chances for the opposition.

In the combined league-phase standings, Celta Vigo currently sit around the edge of the top ten, while Crvena Zvezda are placed a little lower in the mid-table positions. That means both sides still have something substantial to play for: Celta are chasing a higher seeding, and Zvezda are pushing to secure their place in the knockout picture.

Head-to-Head and Historical Context

Competitive meetings between Crvena Zvezda and Celta Vigo in UEFA competitions have been rare, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to this fixture. The clubs come from two very different footballing cultures – Serbian heavyweights with a long European pedigree versus a Spanish side known for technical, possession-based football – yet they have not built up a regular rivalry on the continental stage.

That lack of a rich head-to-head history means both teams go into this game focusing more on recent form than on past encounters. Celta’s players will be tested by the intense atmosphere at Rajko Mitic, while Zvezda’s squad must adapt to the tempo and technical quality that Spanish sides often bring to European competition.

Tactical Keys to the Match

Crvena Zvezda’s likely approach

At home, Crvena Zvezda are expected to build on what has worked well for them throughout the league phase:

• Maintaining a compact, disciplined defensive block to reduce space between the lines.
• Using experienced central midfielders to break up play and trigger counters.
• Targeting set pieces – corners and wide free-kicks – where strong aerial presence can be decisive.
• Feeding quick wingers and forwards on the break, especially when Celta push their full-backs high.

Where Celta Vigo can threaten

Celta Vigo will look to take advantage of their attacking momentum and technical quality:

• Keeping the ball moving quickly through midfield to pull Zvezda’s defensive shape out of position.
• Using overlapping full-backs and wide forwards to stretch the pitch horizontally.
• Attempting combinations and through balls between centre-back and full-back zones, especially when Zvezda step up.
• Maintaining a high tempo to force mistakes in Zvezda’s build-up and in their defensive third.

The key battleground will likely be in central areas. If Crvena Zvezda can slow the game down and turn it into a physical, stop-start contest, they will feel confident of grinding out another positive home result. If Celta are able to impose their rhythm and find space between Zvezda’s midfield and defence, the Spanish side could create enough chances to tilt the match in their favour.

Standings Context – League Phase Table

*Positions based on the latest league-phase standings ahead of Matchday 8.

Match Outlook and Prediction

Predicted Final Score: Crvena Zvezda 1–1 Celta Vigo

This fixture has all the ingredients of a tight, high-quality European contest. Crvena Zvezda have been extremely reliable at home in this league phase, conceding very few goals and thriving on the energy of the Rajko Mitic crowd. Celta Vigo, however, are one of the more dangerous attacking sides in the competition and have already shown they can win big games away from Spain.

On balance, a draw looks like the most realistic outcome. Zvezda’s defensive organisation and home advantage suggest they are unlikely to be blown away, while Celta’s attacking patterns and confidence make it hard to see them leaving without at least creating good chances of their own. A 1–1 scoreline reflects the feeling that both teams will have periods of control, but neither will find it easy to dominate for the full 90 minutes.

Note: This prediction is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not betting advice. Any form of gambling is strictly for adults and must always be done responsibly and in line with local laws and regulations.