Celta Vigo fans have set a historic club record by mobilising around 3,000 supporters for Thursday's Europa League match against Celtic in Glasgow. This figure surpasses any previous away following for the Galician club in European competition.
The 3,000 tickets sold exceed the 2,500 fans who travelled to Old Trafford for the Europa League semi-finals against Manchester United nine years ago. It also tops the 2,900 supporters present in Lyon last season for the round of 16 tie. This trip will be the largest since Celta's first ever European away match, against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in 1971.
Carlos Cao, the club's director of infrastructure, explained the fans' behaviour. "Lots of our fans bought a ticket first, then worried about travel and a hotel later!", Cao said. The executive added that those in Glasgow do not understand why so many people from Vigo want to attend the game. "For them it's just another match, but for our supporters it is a very special fixture," he noted.
This unprecedented turnout comes as the team, eighth in La Liga with 11 points from nine games, looks to build on a positive moment. Celta are arriving from a 2-1 win over Alavés last weekend, with goals from Ferran Jutglà and Javier Rodríguez Galiano, and face the match in Scotland following a patchy run of form (WLDWL). Their last five matches have yielded two wins, one draw and two defeats, a sequence that includes a 1-2 loss to Juventus and a goalless draw with Elche.
The fans' commitment contrasts with the team's position in the Europa League league phase, where both sides are yet to earn a point after two defeats. The next home fixture is against fourth-placed Real Betis on Saturday 25 October. The supporters travelling to Glasgow hope their massive backing will provide a boost for the team during a key stretch of the season, which includes important domestic and European matches. The side, having scored 10 goals and conceded 7 in the league, currently sits 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.
The report in full is at Daily Record Football
