Europa League 2024-25: Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo chase vital home wins on Matchday 4
Synopsis
Two Spanish clubs with contrasting form but identical urgency — Real Sociedad battling to hold their direct-qualification spot and Celta Vigo fighting to climb off the elimination line — both host European opposition on Thursday. A 6-0 hammering of Lillestrom and a Celtic scalp show what these sides can do at their best; the question is whether weekend La Liga beatings have dented their confidence at the worst possible moment.
Key Takeaways
Real Sociedad sit 14th in the Europa League table with 4 points from 3 matches , inside the direct Round of 16 spots.
Celta Vigo are 25th , just outside the playoff places, and host Union Saint-Gilloise at Balaidos Stadium .
Celta failed to register a shot on target in a 3-0 La Liga loss to Rayo Vallecano last weekend; coach Claudio Giraldez is set to make changes.
Striker Borja Iglesias remains sidelined for Celta with a calf injury.
Real Sociedad face Lyon after a 2-1 derby defeat to Athletic Club; coach Pellegrino Matarazzo is expected to rotate, with Takefusa Kubo and Orri Oskarsson in contention.
Under Europa League rules, the top 8 qualify directly for the Round of 16; places 9–24 enter a two-legged playoff.
Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, two of Spain's representatives in the UEFA Europa League, will host their respective opponents on Thursday, 7 November, as both clubs look to sharpen their prospects of advancing to the knockout rounds of the 36-team league phase.
Current Standings and What Is at Stake
Real Sociedad sit 14th in the Europa League table with four points from three matches, placing them inside the direct qualification zone for the Round of 16. Celta Vigo are further down in 25th place, just outside the playoff positions, despite a creditable away victory over Celtic in their previous continental outing.
Under the competition's format, the top eight sides at the end of the league phase advance directly to the Round of 16, while clubs finishing ninth through 24th enter a two-legged playoff. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated, making Thursday's fixtures critical for both Spanish sides.
Celta Vigo vs Union Saint-Gilloise: Building on Glasgow Glory
Celta Vigo host Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise at their Balaidos Stadium in Vigo, eager to replicate the momentum from their win in Glasgow. The task is complicated, however, by a 3-0 La Liga defeat to Rayo Vallecano last weekend — a match in which Celta failed to register a single shot on target.
Coach Claudio Giraldez is expected to ring the changes, with Williot Swedberg, Pablo Duran, and captain Iago Aspas all pushing for starting berths. Spain international striker Borja Iglesias remains unavailable, sidelined with a calf injury that has disrupted Celta's attacking options in recent weeks.
Real Sociedad vs Lyon: Basque Club Looks to Rebound
Real Sociedad face a potentially more demanding fixture against French club Lyon, which has collected one win and suffered two defeats from its opening three Europa League games — a record that makes the tie deceptively open.
The Basque club showed its firepower in Europe earlier this campaign, thrashing Norwegian side Lillestrom 6-0 away from home, but arrives at Thursday's match on the back of a 2-1 Basque derby loss to local rival Athletic Club on Sunday. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo is likely to rotate, with Japan international Takefusa Kubo, midfielder Benat Turrientes, and forward Orri Oskarsson in contention to start. Goalkeeper Unai Marrero could also be handed a rare opportunity between the posts.
What Victory — or Defeat — Means
Wins for both clubs would meaningfully improve their trajectories toward the knockout stage, potentially lifting Celta into the playoff zone and cementing Real Sociedad's position among the automatic qualifiers. Conversely, defeats would leave each side reliant on their remaining four league-phase matches to salvage their European campaigns, compressing the margin for error significantly. Both clubs' continental futures are, in effect, on the line before the season's midpoint.
Point of View
Despite a poor start, is a club with far greater continental pedigree and will not be cowed at the Reale Arena. Celta's situation is more structurally precarious: sitting 25th means one more bad result tips them into elimination territory. Giraldez's rotation dilemma is real — Europa League survival versus La Liga form recovery — and there is no clean answer. Spanish clubs have historically underperformed in the Europa League's new league phase when carrying domestic fatigue, and Thursday offers a quick referendum on whether that pattern holds.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Europa League league-phase format?
In the current Europa League format, 36 clubs play eight matches each in a single league table. The top 8 qualify directly for the Round of 16, clubs finishing 9th to 24th enter a two-legged knockout playoff, and teams finishing 25th or below are eliminated.
Where do Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo currently stand in the Europa League?
Real Sociedad are 14th with four points from three matches, inside the direct qualification zone. Celta Vigo are 25th — just outside the playoff places — despite winning away to Celtic in their most recent European match.
Who is unavailable for Celta Vigo against Union Saint-Gilloise?
Spain international striker Borja Iglesias is sidelined for Celta Vigo with a calf injury. Coach Claudio Giraldez is expected to make several changes after a 3-0 La Liga loss to Rayo Vallecano in which Celta failed to register a single shot on target.
What is Lyon's form heading into the Real Sociedad match?
Lyon has won one and lost two of its opening three Europa League matches. Despite the modest record, it remains a threat, particularly given Real Sociedad's recent 2-1 derby defeat to Athletic Club.
Why are Thursday's Europa League matches so important for both Spanish clubs?
Victories would solidify Real Sociedad's direct-qualification standing and lift Celta Vigo into the playoff zone. Defeats would leave both clubs dependent on their remaining four league-phase fixtures, with little room for further dropped points before elimination becomes the likely outcome.
