Celta Vigo now knows its position for the draw of the 2026-27 Europa League league phase, which takes place this Friday. The Vigo-based club is in Pot 3 which will shape its potential opponents in the continental competition.
The European season starts for Celta at a delicate moment in domestic play. The team currently sits 14th in the La Liga standings, with just one point from two games, following a draw and a loss. Their goal tally stands at one scored and two conceded. Furthermore, striker Borja Iglesias is currently sidelined, a significant absence ahead of the next league match against Real Sociedad, who are also a rival in Europe.
Which teams can Celta face?
The format of the Europa League league phase is identical to the Champions League. Each team will face eight different opponents, playing four matches at home and four away. Celta Vigo, being in Pot 3, cannot be drawn against other clubs from the same pot. This rules out immediate matchups against Sturm Graz, Lech Poznan, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Celje, Jagiellonia, and Omonia.
Potential rivals will be drawn from the other three pots. Pot 1 features heavyweights like Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Juventus, Milan, Lyon, and the other Spanish representative, Real Sociedad. Pot 2 includes Ferencvaros, Viktoria Plzen, Union Saint-Gilloise, Dinamo Zagreb, Salzburg, Celtic, Sparta Prague, Stade Rennais, and Anderlecht. Finally, Pot 4 is composed of Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Torreense, Hapoel Beer Sheva, NEC Nijmegen, Ofi Crete, Lillestrom, Levski Sofia, and Ararat.
When is the league phase played?
The European calendar is already set. The first matchday of the Europa League league phase will be played on Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17. This date coincides with a La Liga matchday in Spain, which will mean a fixture congestion for Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad. The sky-blue team will have to manage a double competitive effort from the start of the campaign.
For fans wanting to follow the team's path, all information on official commitments is available on our fixtures page. The squad, with confirmed absences, can be checked in the team section.
What does being in Pot 3 mean?
The placement in Pot 3 reflects Celta Vigo's UEFA coefficient, which is lower than that of Real Sociedad, placed in Pot 1. This theoretically paints a more complicated path, as it increases the chances of facing higher-ranked teams from Pots 1 and 2. However, the new league format spreads the difficulty across eight matches, offering more room for recovery.
A notable detail is the presence of three English clubs in the same pot as Celta: Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Sunderland. The presence of Torreense, a Portuguese second-division club, in Pot 4 is also noteworthy. The competition promises a high level with the presence of historic clubs like Milan and Juventus.
Friday's draw will set Celta Vigo's European course for the coming months. With the team needing to find its best form both in Europe and in a La Liga where they are already six points behind leaders Alaves, every decision will be important. The evolution of the La Liga standings table will go hand in hand with continental results.
