Key Takeaways:
- Crvena Zvezda and Celta Vigo drew 1:1 in the final main phase Europa League fixture in Belgrade
- Both sides missed the chance to advance directly to the round of 16, falling short of the top 8 places
- Fer Lopez and Bruno Duarte da Silva exchanged late goals in the 87th and 89th minutes respectively
Match Overview
Crvena Zvezda and Celta Vigo concluded their main phase Europa League campaigns with a 1:1 draw in Belgrade, a result that prevented either club from claiming a top eight position and automatic qualification for the round of 16. The match came to life in the final moments, as Fer Lopez opened the scoring for Celta in the 87th minute, only for Bruno Duarte da Silva to equalise for Zvezda just two minutes later. Ultimately, Zvezda secured 14 points, finishing one point clear of their Spanish visitors.
🏁 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 en Belgrado!
Acadamos un punto para rematar a Fase Liga nun campo moi difícil 🙌🩵#FKCZCelta ⋄ #EuropaLeague pic.twitter.com/SuJRYZngRn
— Celta (@RCCelta) January 29, 2026
First Half Action and Disallowed Goals
The hosts, buoyed by the passionate support of their home fans, began assertively. By the 5th minute, Rodrigo had already forced Ionut Radu into a save to keep the scores level. Shortly after, Marko Arnautovic found the net, only for his effort to be chalked off due to a foul by Aleksandar Katai in the build-up.
Celta responded in the 13th minute when a misplaced pass from Rodrigo set up Javi Rueda, but the Crvena Zvezda goalkeeper Mateusz produced a fine save. Not long after, Arnautovic chipped Radu but was once again denied by the assistant referee’s flag for offside. Around the midpoint of the first half, Borja Iglesias threatened for the visitors, his shot rebounding off the post as Zvezda enjoyed a stroke of luck.
Second Half Developments and Late Goals
After the break, Vladimir Lucic came on for Vasilije Kostov in the Zvezda lineup. Despite Celta’s best efforts, the Spanish side missed a clear opportunity in the 49th minute when Javi Rueda teed up Borja Iglesias, who was unable to convert with the goal at his mercy. Zvezda adapted by slowing the pace and opting for sporadic counter-attacks. On 65 minutes, Arnautovic tried a clever backheel, though Radu was untroubled in the Celta goal.
Late in the match, the deadlock was finally broken as substitute Fer Lopez produced a moment of inspiration, curling a superb outside-foot strike beyond Mateusz in the 88th minute. Almost immediately, the hosts replied: Bruno Duarte da Silva levelled the score in the 89th minute to salvage a point for the Serbian side.
| Team | Score | Goal Scorers | Points After Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crvena Zvezda | 1 | Bruno Duarte 89′ | 14 |
| Celta Vigo | 1 | Fer Lopez 88′ | 13 |
Recent Form and Standings Impact
This fixture marked only the second official match of the year for Crvena Zvezda, who previously triumphed 1:0 over Malmö FF in Sweden a week prior. By contrast, Celta Vigo approached the fixture having won four consecutive matches in all competitions, before suffering a 0:1 defeat to Real Sociedad in La Liga over the weekend.
The result in Belgrade leaves both teams outside the immediate qualification spots for the Europa League round of 16, and they will now need to navigate additional knockout rounds to progress further in the tournament.
