EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - LYON VS CELTA VIGO

Europa League

2026-03-19 - Lyon vs Celta Vigo

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Lyon v Celta Vigo
Football: UEFA Europa League Last 16 Second Leg
Thursday 19th March 2026 - Kick Off 5:45pm
This game is live on TV

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Lyon

Long gone are the days when Lyon were the top team playing in the French League and it has been six years since they reached the Champions League Semi Final. That was the last time this club played in the top European competition and Lyon are hoping to make a return to the elite level at the end of this season, either through the domestic finish or by winning the Europa League.

If the season ended today, Lyon would be playing in the Champions League Qualifiers in August, but they are still hoping to push into the top three domestically to earn a direct spot in the League Phase of that competition. A strong run in the Europa League saw Lyon top the Group standings and the 1-1 draw in the First Leg of this Last 16 tie, while they had a 4-0-0 record at home in the League Phase.

Lyon have failed to win any of the last 6 games in all competitions, which have slowed momentum, and the side have drawn the last 4 in succession in normal time. They had won 8 games in a row at home in all competitions before losing 2-3 to Lens After Extra Time and Lyon following that up with a 1-1 draw against Paris FC in front of the supporters.

Celta Vigo

A top six finish in the Spanish Primera Division will give Celta Vigo an opportunity to play in Europe in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2004. Despite the 1-1 home draw in this Last 16 tie, Celta Vigo fans will still be hopeful that the team can find a way through to the Quarter Final of the Europa League having reached the Semi Final when last playing in the competition in 2017.

There is a real chance that Spain will be afforded an extra Champions League spot and Celta Vigo are just 3 points behind 5th placed Real Betis after results this past weekend. They did beat PAOK in the Knock Out Play Off Round last month in the Europa League and that means Celta Vigo have a 2-1-2 away record in this competition this season.

Celta Vigo had been on a fine run where they had won 4 fixtures in a row in all competitions, but that sequence was ended in a 1-2 home defeat to Real Madrid and has been followed by consecutive draws. The side are unbeaten in 6 away games in all competitions since losing at Real Sociedad, but Celta Vigo's 1-1 draw at Real Betis means 4 of those matches have ended in stalemate.

Head to Head

The 1-1 draw hosted by Celta Vigo was the first competitive fixture between these clubs.

Prediction

This Last 16 tie is finely poised after the 1-1 draw in Spain last week and Celta Vigo will be kicking themselves for losing a man early in the second half and ultimately being punished for that.

They played well enough to still travel with plenty of confidence, but Celta Vigo have struggled for consistency away from home.

Now they have to face a Lyon team that have won all 4 home Europa League games, although recent form produced by the team has been a little underwhelming.

Lyon have not been easy to beat, but they have not been scoring a lot of goals and produced a pretty wasteful display in the 1-1 draw in the First Leg.

The last couple of home games have ended in draws after regulation time, but Lyon were beaten by Lens in the French Cup After Extra Time.

In each of the last two appearances in the Europa League in 2022 and 2025, Lyon have reached the Quarter Final and they will believe they have done a lot of the hard work by returning home with a 1-1 draw from the First Leg of this tie.

Of course that does not mean they can take anything for granted, especially as Lyon have been struggling to do enough to win in recent outings. However, home advantage could be telling in this Second Leg and Lyon have won 6 of the last 8 played here in the Europa League going back to last season and may just have enough to edge past Celta Vigo without the added stress of playing Extra Time or Penalties.

The Pick :

Lyon 2-1 Celta Vigo

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Lyon to Win at 2.08 with SportBet.One