Celta secured a draw against Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade in a match that did not affect their qualification, already guaranteed for the next round of the UEFA Europa League, but which served to test their resilience in a demanding setting with a hostile atmosphere. The Celeste side came close to victory after a serious and sustained effort, with a goal from Fer López in the final minutes, but Bruno Duarte spoiled the celebration shortly afterwards.
The first half was slow, with Red Star carrying most of the early pressure, pressing intensely and looking for mistakes from Claudio Giráldez’s players, who opted for a more cautious and controlled approach to minimize risks. The opening 45 minutes were marked by few clear chances and a lot of midfield battles, with Celta well organized at the back and conceding little danger before the break.
After the interval, the match opened up slightly. The Galicians gained more offensive presence as the minutes passed and were rewarded in the final stretch thanks to Fer López, who scored a great goal from outside the area to put his “new” team ahead. However, the joy was short-lived, as a defensive lapse allowed Red Star to equalize almost immediately, leaving the final score level.
The overall outcome is positive for Celta, who showed resilience in a challenging stadium and earned a valuable point, even if it was not necessary, to remain alive in Europe. The draw allows them to advance to the next stage of the Europa League and ensures the second leg will be played at Abanca Balaídos, a key factor for approaching the next continental round with ambition. The draw to determine Celta’s next opponent will take place tomorrow, Friday, January 30, at 13:00 CET, and can be followed on the club’s official YouTube channel.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Estrella Roja: Matheus; Seol, Rodrigao, Veljkovic, Tiknizyan (Avdić, 50); Kostov (Lučić, min. 45), Elsnik, Krunic, Stankovic (Milson, min. 80); Katai, Arnautovic (Bruno Duarte, min. 78).
Celta: Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago (Mihailo Ristic, min. 82), Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda (Óscar Mingueza, min. 82), Ilaix Moriba, Miguel Román, Sergio Carreira; Iago Aspas (Fer López, min. 61), Hugo Alvarez, Borja Iglesias (Ferran Jutglá, min. 61).
Goals: Fer López (min. 87) and Bruno Duarte (min. 89).
Referee: Andrea Colombo (Italy). He showed yellow cards to Miguel Román (34’), Krunic (42’) and Lučić (72’).
Incidents:Last match of the Europa League group stage played at the Rajko Mitić, attended by around 900 Celta fans.
