Late Drama As Red Star And Celta Vigo Draw In Europa League Thriller

The UEFA Europa League’s league phase came to a dramatic close on January 29, 2026, with a slate of high-stakes matches that kept fans on the edge of their seats across Europe. Among the most riveting encounters was the clash at Belgrade’s iconic Stadion Rajko Mitić—affectionately known as the "Marakana"—where Red Star Belgrade hosted Spain’s Celta Vigo in a battle that had direct implications for the coveted top-eight spots and automatic entry to the last 16.

Heading into the final matchday, both Red Star and Celta Vigo had already secured their places in the top 24, guaranteeing at least a playoff berth. But with only a point separating the Serbian hosts in 11th and the Galicians in 14th, a win could have propelled either side into the competition’s upper echelon and spared them an extra knockout round. The stakes? Immense. The tension? Palpable.

From the opening whistle, the atmosphere at the Marakana was electric. The stands were packed, the fans’ voices echoing through the chilly Belgrade night, as both teams emerged determined to seize their moment. Red Star, managed by Dejan Stankovic and fielding a fully-fit squad, lined up in a classic 4-4-2, with the experienced Aleksandar Katai and Marko Arnautović spearheading the attack. Celta Vigo, under Claudio Giráldez, were forced to improvise without key defenders Manuel Fernandez (injury) and suspended duo Williot Swedberg and Hugo Sotelo, but still boasted the creative prowess of Iago Aspas up front.

The early stages were not without controversy. Red Star’s home form in the Europa League had been built on defensive solidity, but they thought they’d struck first when Arnautović finished off a slick move, only for VAR to intervene and disallow the goal for a marginal infringement. The home fans, already simmering from a previous VAR decision, made their displeasure known, creating a cauldron-like atmosphere that seemed to rattle both sides.

After a cagey, somewhat scrappy first half—marked by fouls, bookings, and two more disallowed goals—neither side had managed to break the deadlock. As the teams regrouped at halftime, it was clear that the match was poised on a knife’s edge, with both managers urging their players to seize the initiative.

The second half saw both teams gradually ramp up the intensity. Red Star’s teenage sensation, Vasilije Kostov, showed flashes of his creative brilliance, orchestrating attacks and probing the Spanish backline. According to VAVEL, Kostov has been “the home team’s creative engine,” and his ability to link play and find pockets of space was evident throughout. On the other side, Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas—described by VAVEL as “the heartbeat of the Galician side”—looked to exploit any gaps, but found himself well-marshaled by Red Star’s disciplined defense.

As the match entered its final quarter, the tension reached fever pitch. Substitutions came thick and fast, with both managers seeking the right formula to tip the balance. In the 87th minute, it seemed Celta Vigo had snatched all three points when Fer López unleashed a stunning long-range effort that left the Red Star goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The Spanish bench erupted, sensing a vital victory that could catapult them into the top eight.

But the drama was far from over. Just two minutes later, Red Star’s Bruno Duarte latched onto a pinpoint pass from Timi Elsnik and coolly slotted home the equalizer, sending the Marakana into delirium. The home fans’ celebrations were deafening, and the final minutes saw both sides push desperately for a winner, only to be denied by resolute defending and, at times, the intervention of VAR.

When the final whistle blew after five minutes of added time, the scoreboard read 1-1—a result that reflected the balance of play and the sheer determination on display. As VAVEL described it, “Both teams fought for the win until the final whistle, delivering a tense and dramatic spectacle.” The draw meant that neither side could claim an automatic spot in the last 16, but both would advance to the playoffs, their European dreams still alive.

The match statistics underscored the evenly-matched nature of the contest. Red Star continued their trend of low-scoring, defensively solid home performances—every league-phase home game had finished with under 2.5 goals. The hosts also maintained their impressive average of over six corners per home match, pressing forward relentlessly in search of a breakthrough. Celta, meanwhile, showed resilience on the road despite a patchy away record in the group stage, having lost two of their previous three away fixtures.

This encounter also added another chapter to the head-to-head history between the two clubs. Their only previous meetings came in the 2000-01 UEFA Cup, when Celta edged the tie on aggregate. This time, parity prevailed, and both sides will look back on missed opportunities and moments of brilliance as they prepare for the knockout phase.

Elsewhere in the Europa League, Aston Villa and Lyon had already secured their places in the round of 16 before a ball was kicked on Matchday 8, while teams like FC Porto and VfB Stuttgart were still jostling for position in the top eight. The league phase’s simultaneous kickoffs ensured that every goal, every decision, could have a ripple effect across the tournament landscape. The draw for the knockout play-offs, set for January 30, promises even more intrigue as the road to the final narrows.

For Red Star Belgrade, the focus now shifts to building on their defensive strengths and harnessing the youthful exuberance of players like Kostov. For Celta Vigo, the challenge will be to translate their attacking flair—having scored 14 goals in the league phase, the third-highest tally among all teams—into knockout success, especially as they await the return of key squad members from suspension and injury.

As the dust settles on a pulsating night in Belgrade, both teams can take pride in their resilience and ambition. The Marakana faithful witnessed another European classic, and the Europa League, true to form, delivered drama until the very last kick. The playoff stage now beckons, with all eyes on who will take the next step on the road to continental glory.