RC Celta produced a superb away performance to beat Celtic FC 2-1 at Celtic Park on 23 October 2026, coming from behind to claim all three points in the UEFA Europa League league phase. The Spanish side trailed at the interval but turned the game around with a second-half display of pressing, patience and clinical finishing that silenced a raucous home crowd.

Match overview

• Competition: UEFA Europa League, league phase
• Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow
• Result: Celtic FC 1-2 RC Celta
• Pattern: Celtic started strongly, Celta controlled the second half

The atmosphere was everything European nights at Celtic Park are supposed to be, and the home side fed off it early. Celtic pressed high, forced Celta into hurried clearances and were rewarded with the opening goal before the break. But the visitors adjusted at half-time, raised their line, and gradually squeezed the game into Celtic's half.

First half: Celtic's fast start

Celtic's opener came from exactly the kind of scenario their supporters expect: a turnover high up the pitch, a quick combination on the edge of the box and a finish taken early before the goalkeeper could set himself. For twenty minutes afterwards the Scottish champions looked capable of adding a second, with their wide players repeatedly isolating Celta's full-backs.

Celta weathered the storm, though. Their goalkeeper made two important stops, and as the half wore on the Spanish side began to find pockets of space between Celtic's midfield and defence. The warning signs were there before the interval.

Second half: the comeback

The equaliser arrived early in the second period. Celta won the ball back in midfield, switched play quickly to the opposite flank and delivered a low cross that was converted at the back post. The goal changed the mood inside the stadium and, more importantly, the shape of the match — Celtic's pressing became more fragmented as the visitors circulated the ball with growing confidence.

The winner came with around fifteen minutes remaining. Celta worked a patient move down the right, drew Celtic's midfield toward the ball and then found a runner arriving late into the penalty area. The finish was emphatic, low into the corner, and the away bench erupted. Celtic threw on attacking substitutes and pushed bodies forward in the closing stages, but Celta defended their box with composure and managed the final minutes intelligently.

Tactical story

The match turned on Celta's half-time adjustment. In the first half they were stretched, defending in a low block and struggling to escape Celtic's counter-press. After the break they pressed higher, compressed the space in midfield and forced Celtic to play longer, less controlled passes. That shift flipped the territorial battle and gave the Spanish side the platform for both goals.

Celtic's difficulty was converting early dominance into clear chances. Their build-up was quick and their intent positive, but the final ball too often went astray, and when Celta equalised the home side's structure became stretched as they chased the game.

Standout performers

• Celta's midfield: Grew into the game and dominated the second half, winning second balls and dictating tempo.
• Celta's goalkeeper: Two crucial first-half saves kept the deficit manageable.
• Celtic's wide attackers: Bright in the opening half hour, but increasingly isolated after the interval.
• Celta's late-arriving midfield runner: Provided the decisive goal with a perfectly timed burst into the box.

Europa League table impact

Away wins are the currency of the Europa League's league phase, and Celta's victory is worth far more than the three points alone — it gives them a strong goal-difference position and confidence ahead of tougher fixtures. For Celtic, the defeat is a setback but not a fatal one; the new format rewards consistency, and there is still plenty of football to play.

Up next

Celtic will look to respond quickly, with their next European outing away from home and their domestic schedule offering an immediate chance to rebuild rhythm. Celta, meanwhile, return to Spain with a template for how to win on the road in Europe: absorb pressure, adjust at the break, and take the chances when the game opens up.