As the UEFA Europa League group stage continues, Estadio Abanca-Balaídos in Vigo, Spain, prepares to host a fascinating encounter on October 2, 2025, at 19:00 UTC. Celta Vigo, representing La Liga, will welcome Greek Super League contenders PAOK in a match that carries significant weight for both sides. Both teams are reportedly reeling from winless starts to their European campaigns, making this clash a crucial opportunity to reignite their hopes and gain a foothold in the group. The atmosphere in Balaídos is always electric, providing a formidable home advantage for Celta, known for inspiring their players to peak performance. Will Celta leverage their Spanish flair and home support, or can PAOK overcome their historical struggles on Spanish soil to snatch a vital away result?
Head-to-Head: A Fresh Rivalry Begins
Intriguingly, the upcoming fixture marks the very first competitive meeting between Celta Vigo and PAOK. This virgin encounter adds an extra layer of unpredictability, as neither side can draw upon past direct experiences. However, examining their historical performances against opponents from each other’s respective leagues offers some intriguing insights.
- Total Matches Played: 0
- Wins Celta Vigo: 0
- Wins PAOK: 0
- Draws: 0
While a direct head-to-head record is absent, Celta Vigo boasts an impressive unbeaten record against Greek teams, having secured three wins in their four previous encounters. Conversely, PAOK has historically struggled when facing Spanish opposition, remaining winless in all of their away games against Spanish teams in European competitions.
Current Form & Team News
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo enters this match in a challenging period. Their overall form in La Liga for the 2024/2025 season has been poor, registering 0 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses from their initial seven matches, placing them 15th in the league table. Their home form isn’t much better, with 0 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss. In their Europa League opener, Celta suffered a 2-1 away defeat to Stuttgart. They followed this with another 2-1 loss to Elche in La Liga, extending their winless streak across all competitions this season to eight games, with five of them being draws. Notably, Celta Vigo has scored only one goal in each of their last seven matches in all competitions.
As of now, specific long-term injuries or suspensions for October 2025 are not available. However, given their attacking struggles, manager Claudio Giráldez González (if still in charge) will be keen to unlock his team’s scoring potential. Historically, players like Gabri Veiga have been central to Celta’s creative output, and his form will be crucial if he remains at the club.
PAOK
PAOK’s season in the Greek Super League 2024/2025 has seen them record 18 wins, 4 draws, and 10 losses from 32 matches. In the Europa League, they commenced their campaign with a goalless draw against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Their recent form leading up to this fixture shows them to be winless in their last four games across all competitions, during which they have conceded seven goals and failed to score in two of those matches. Despite these recent setbacks, PAOK holds a strong record in the Europa League group stage, being unbeaten in their last nine such fixtures.
Under coach Răzvan Lucescu, PAOK typically employs a 4-2-3-1 formation and emphasizes a possession-based game. Their attacking line often features players like Dimitrios Pelkas, Kiril Despodov, and Giannis Konstantelias, who have been among their top scorers in the 2025 season.
Tactical Preview
This match promises a tactical battle between Celta Vigo’s inherent attacking philosophy and PAOK’s structured, possession-oriented approach. Celta Vigo is renowned for its attractive, attacking style of play, characterized by quick passing, fluid movement, and creative flair, often employing a high-pressing game from the back. While they have shown tactical flexibility, at times utilizing a 4-1-3-2 or even a more defensive 5-4-1, their default inclination is to dominate possession and transition quickly.
PAOK, under Răzvan Lucescu, typically lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on building play from the back and maintaining control of the ball. Their full-backs are crucial in their positional play, often pushing high to create attacking options. The midfield battle will be key, as Celta’s high press will aim to disrupt PAOK’s build-up and win turnovers in dangerous areas. Conversely, PAOK’s disciplined midfield will seek to absorb pressure and dictate the tempo.
Celta’s attacking mindset might find avenues against a PAOK defense that has recently shown vulnerabilities, conceding seven goals in their last four outings. However, Celta’s own struggle for goals (one per game in their last seven) means they will need to be clinical. Environmental factors will also play a role; Celta will benefit from the fervent support of their home crowd, a significant psychological advantage. PAOK, traveling from Greece to Spain, might contend with some degree of travel fatigue, though professional athletes are generally well-equipped to manage this. The pitch conditions at Estadio Abanca-Balaídos are expected to be excellent, facilitating free-flowing football.
