Celta Vigo vs PAOK: Match Preview

As the second leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-offs unfolds on February 26, 2026, Celta Vigo welcomes PAOK to Balaídos Stadium. Celta Vigo holds a slender 2-1 aggregate advantage following their away victory in the first leg, making this a crucial encounter for both sides aiming to progress to the next round. With Celta Vigo sitting sixth in La Liga on 37 points and PAOK third in the Greek Super League with 46 points, this match pits two competitively placed teams against each other in a European context.

Examining recent form, Celta Vigo has shown resilience with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five outings. They secured a 2-0 home win over Mallorca, a 2-1 victory against PAOK in the Europa League, a 2-2 draw at Espanyol, a 1-2 defeat to Osasuna, and a 0-0 stalemate at Getafe. This suggests a team capable of grinding out results, particularly at home. In contrast, PAOK's form has been more stagnant, with one win, three draws, and one loss. Their results include a 1-1 draw at AEL Larissa, the 1-2 loss to Celta Vigo, a 0-0 draw against AEK Athens, a 2-0 Greek Cup win over Panathinaikos, and a 0-0 draw at Aris, indicating a reliance on defensive solidity but a struggle to convert chances.

Key players could influence the outcome significantly. For Celta Vigo, top scorers include Borja Iglesias with 14 goals, Williot Swedberg with six, and captain Iago Aspas with five, offering a potent attacking threat. However, injuries to Hugo Sotelo, Franco Cervi, and Álvaro Núñez may impact their depth. PAOK's scoring is led by Giorgos Giakoumakis with 12 goals, followed by the injured Giannis Konstantelias with nine, Magomed Ozdoev with seven, and both Dimitris Pelkas and Taison with five each. The visitors face a more severe injury crisis, with Luka Ivanušec, Giannis Konstantelias, Kiril Despodov, Dimitrios Pelkas, Soualiho Meïté, and Dejan Lovren sidelined, alongside suspensions for Andrija Zivkovic, Luka Ivanusek, and Joan Sastre, potentially weakening their lineup considerably.

In terms of head-to-head encounters, the teams have met twice this season in the Europa League, with Celta Vigo emerging victorious both times: a 3-1 win at home in October 2025 and a 2-1 away win in February 2026. This dominance could shape tactical approaches, as Celta Vigo might look to leverage their high-press style to exploit PAOK's defensive vulnerabilities, while PAOK may adopt a counter-attacking strategy to overturn the deficit. Without specific lineup details, it's challenging to predict exact formations, but the historical meetings suggest Celta Vigo has the upper hand in direct clashes.

Based on the aggregate lead, recent form, and head-to-head record, Celta Vigo appears likely to progress, though PAOK's defensive draws show they could mount a comeback. The prediction leans towards a Celta Vigo victory, given their home advantage and PAOK's absences, but football's unpredictability means anything is possible in this tie.