Javi Rodríguez turns Celta into a hero at Celtic Park

Celta visited Celtic Park on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in matchday three of the Europa League group stage, and secured a decisive 1‑2 victory thanks to Javi Rodríguez's three‑minute brace, a Galician centre‑back who became the hero of the sky‑blue side.

Coach Claudio Giráldez made four changes compared with the previous match against Alavés, bringing striker Iago Aspas as a major new signing. In the three‑man defence, centre‑back Javi Rodríguez, Cáceres and Marcos Alonso formed the backbone, while in midfield Javi Rueda and Carreira took charge of the flanks. Andrew Milligan's report for Ap‑LaPresse highlighted the influence of the new signing, Iago Aspas.

The first half passed without goals, with Celta dominating possession and not being intimidated by the atmosphere at Celtic Park. At the start of the second half, Scottish midfielder Mika Baur opened the scoring in the 47th minute, putting Celtic up 1‑0.

The three‑minute brace

Javi Rodríguez equalised the match with a header from a hanging foul in the box in the 68th minute. Three minutes later, he scored again, finishing a shot that hit the post and sealed a 2‑1 win for Celta.

Celtic responded with dangerous crosses and attempts from Nygren and Scales, the latter striking the crossbar. However, the sky‑blue defence kept its composure and prevented the score from changing again.

Impact on the table

With the win, Celta added its first three points in the Europa League, moving from zero to three after three matchdays. This triumph gives them breathing room in a stage where the top eight qualify directly for the round of 16 and those from ninth to twenty‑fourth contest the playoff. Five matchdays remain, and Giráldez's side faces the rest with points on the table. Journalist Xavi Solé noted that the victory shows that Celta still has a lot to say in the continental contest.

In the stands, roughly 3 000 Celta supporters occupied the away section, while the Green Brigade stayed away in a boycott of the club's management. The atmosphere remained vibrant despite the absence of the cheering group.