Celta Vigo is determined to mount a historic comeback against Freiburg in the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals, aiming to reach the semifinals for only the second time in the club’s history — a dream that seemed distant after last week’s 3-0 defeat in Germany against Julian Schuster’s side.
Javi Rodríguez battles for the ball with Makengo.
The worst performance of the season came at the worst possible moment, at the Europa-Park Stadion. Claudio Giráldez’s team barely entered the opposition’s area, struggled to produce decisive counterattacks, and managed only two shots on goal. Freiburg’s physical superiority was evident in two key examples: Matthias Ginter neutralized Borja Iglesias, while Swiss midfielder Manzambi dwarfed Ilaix Moriba in the midfield.
The blow was severe — the harshest of the Giráldez era. Worse still, just three days later, Celta delivered another poor performance in La Liga against bottom-placed Oviedo. The Asturian rout set off alarm bells in Balaídos, especially due to the defensive fragility shown since Swedish defender Carl Starfelt’s absence: 12 goals conceded in four matches.
Freiburg arrives in Vigo confident of protecting their lead. Coach Julian Schuster confirmed that Manzambi will be available for tonight’s match, despite earlier concerns over a knee complaint.
Giráldez during the press conference.
**Match Time for Celta vs Freiburg in the Europa League**
The second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal will be played today, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 18:45 local time (Spanish mainland time).
**Where to Watch Celta vs Freiburg in the Europa League**
In Spain, the match can be watched live on Movistar: M+ Liga de Campeones (Channel 60). Full pre-match build-up, confirmed line-ups, and detailed match reports will be available on MARCA.com and via Radio MARCA commentary.
