Tonight is a must win match for both teams so we can expect an open and exciting contest. A draw is pretty much useless for both teams as both need the three points to kickstart their campaign…
Callum Osmand of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Some Celtic supporters see the Europa League as a mere distraction, especially with our main rivals for the title spared the distraction of European football, but it’s still a tournament we should aspire to compete in.
Tonight’s opponents are La Liga side Celta Vigo who visit Paradise for the first time on competitive business in nearly quarter of a century, and it will be a tough assignment to earn all three points.
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
After losing our first two fixtures and conceding seven goals in the process, it’s vital we kickstart our Europa campaign by snatching a victory, which will not only help our hopes of advancing, it will also give us some much needed confidence in our own ability in regards to competing at this level.
Celta will also be of similar thinking as much like Celtic they have also lost their opening two fixtures, and will naturally be looking for a positive result.
Kieran Tierney of Celtic celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
There’s also the financial benefit on offer, with £385,000 available for winning all three points, and although not a fortune it’s still a handsome bonus all the same.
But the main focus will be to get back to winning ways on the European front, and try to win back some of our dented pride after two disjointed and disappointing performances and terrible results.
Celta of course played at Celtic Park back in 2002 during Martin O’Neill’s star studded sides run to Seville, and won 1-0 courtesy of a Henrik Larsson goal which gave the Hoops a slender win to take to Spain.
John Hartson of Celtic celebrates scoring during the UEFA Cup, 3rd Round, 2nd leg game between Celta Vigo and Celtic held on December 12, 2002 at the Campo De Futbol De Balaidos in Vigo, Spain. Celta Vigo won the match 2-1, Celtic won the tie 2-2 on away goals. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Celtic would unfortunately lose 2-1 in Spain, but would advance on away goals thanks to a John Hartson strike. A repeat of the Celtic Park scoreline would be most welcome tonight as we look to get our first Europa league points on the board.
Celtic come into the game with the management team talking up the second half performance in Lisbon last week that was followed by the mauling of Hearts at the weekend with the Bhoys scoring seven times to break the Tynecastle outfit, backed by a small band of Edinburgh’s Shame who thankfully all left early.
Callum Osmand of Celtic is congratulated by Camilo Duran of Celtic after they combine to scote their team’s fourth goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on October 18, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
We can all hope that that goalscoring spree continues this evening but the reality is that the standard of opposition is better than anything we have faced this season, outside of Benfica.
It’s still an achievable challenge for the Bhoys especially if Celtic Park, without the Green Brigade this evening, can make this into a proper European night under the lights and roar the Celts onto victory.
Let’s hope that is exactly how it all pans out and we are celebrating come 10 o’clock tonight. So let’s make some noise for the Bhoys!
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, both published on 4th September 2026 by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.
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