Celta Vigo goal hero says Celtic Park felt very much like ‘home’…
Javi Rodriguez of Real Club Celta Vigo scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League match between Celtic FC and Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on October 22, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Celta Vigo hero Javi Rodriguez reckons that Celtic Park felt more like a home game to the La Liga side as they earned their first three points in the 2-1 Europa league win on Thursday night.
The Spanish side celebrated their first-ever win on Scottish soil in their 55-year European history, with their debut also being in Scotland, against Aberdeen.
Javi Rodriguez of Celta Vigo scores his team’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on October 22, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Celta Vigo were spurred on by a massive travelling contingent from Spain as they brought their biggest-ever away European support of 3,000, and 23 year old defender Rodriguez reckoned the East End of Glasgow felt more like Celta’s home stadium Estadio Municipal de Balaídos such was the tremendous backing they received.
Rodriguez hadn’t previously scored for 18 months, before he netted in La Liga at the weekend against Alaves before he grabbed his brace against the Hoops.
He said: “I don’t score many goals, so to score two here at this incredible European stadium was amazing for me. Our fans were a big help – they were crazy and were even waiting for us when our bus pulled up. It felt like we were almost at Balaídos.
“We appreciate them coming all the way here, even though it’s a bit chilly in Glasgow, and we’re looking forward to the next match with all our fans who couldn’t be here today, so we can give them another three points.
“It was a party in Glasgow for them.”
The Celta Vigo goalscorer added: “In the first half, Celtic created almost nothing, so for them to score the first goal was quite a blow for us. But we managed to recover and continued playing as we did in the first half, and luckily, the goals came.
“I am a defender so I am not used to scoring goals, so to get three in my last two games is unbelievable for me.”
“We came to a super beautiful stadium in Europe. I still can’t believe I scored 2 goals, and on top of that, coming off the weekend match. The important thing is that we took the victory after they started out winning. First 3 points, and hopefully the first of many.” Javi Rodríguez
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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)
Transfer speculation surrounding Benjamin Nygren moving to Premier League…
Benjamin Nygren is being tipped for a move to the English Premier League with Anders Limpar naming three clubs which may be interesting in Celtic’s goalscoring Sweden international…
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)
Former Arsenal winger Anders Limpar believes that Celtic’s goalscoring midfielder Benjamin Nygren is good enough to play in the Premier League right now and would come cheap for any club willing to take a chance on him.
Ahead of the January window opening, transfer stories are already starting to appear and as far as Celtic is concerned there’s a clear need for a goalkeeper, an other central defender and a holding midfielder.
Dermot Desmond during the ProAm ahead of The Senior Tour Open Championship played at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club on July 25, 2017 in Bridgend, Wales. (Photo by Phil Inglis/Getty Images)
The club don’t like to incur a net spend in the window and after missing out on a move in the summer the Swedish goalscorer may get his wish in the winter window as Celtic looks to fund any incoming signing through the sale of a prized asset.
Celtic supporters are well used to this by now with the likes of Arne Engels, Nicolas Kuhn and Matt O’Riley being recent examples. Next up could be Benjamin Nygren, who splits opinion among the supported but does have an eye for goal with six goals and four assists to his name this season after finishing last season as Celtic’s top goalscorer with 21 goals.
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)
Now Anders Limpar has named Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton as sides who could use a forward of Nygren’s quality, pointing to the Swede’s continued goalscoring form for Celtic as proof he’s ready for the step up.
Nygren ready for the Premier League move says Limpar
“Benjamin Nygren is good enough to play in the Premier League, and you can see that he’s still knocking them in for Celtic for fun,” Limpar said.
“It would be stupid for clubs in the Premier League to not buy him. Man United at the moment are struggling. Really, really struggling. Liverpool are struggling at the moment. Everton are not struggling, but they need quality forwards like Nygren,” the former Arsenal star stated.
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring Celtic v Hearts Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 18 October 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock
He added: “There are a few clubs he can actually choose from that haven’t got a good winger/forward. So, all the Premier League clubs should be looking at this guy, because he’s going to come cheap and he’s a hell of a player.”
Celtic signed Nygren in late June 2025 from Danish side FC Nordsjælland, after the midfielder scored 15 goals for the Danish side in the previous season. The fee was just under £2m but since then Nygren’s value has soared and Celtic could secure a transfer fee of around £20m.
11th October 2026; Fir Park, Scottish Premiership, Motherwell versus Celtic; Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates after he shoots and scores to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou
Nygren is now into his third straight season as an established goalscoring midfielder and would relish the chance to move to play in the Premier League. His contract at Celtic runs through to June 2030 so there is no immediate rush for Celtic to part with the Swede, unless of course the valuation is met.
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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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