MADRID, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Celta Vigo will host Olympique Lyonnais in the Balaidos Stadium on Thursday night with the Spanish side looking to continue its solid home form in the Europa League.
Celta was tremendously unlucky to lose to Real Madrid last Friday due to a deflected goal deep in injury time, but the team coached by Claudio Giraldez is one of the most attractive in Spain, with a flowing passing style held together by players such as Borja Iglesias and Iago Aspas.
The Spaniards reached last 16 thanks to a playoff win over Greek side PAOK FC, winning 2-1 in Greece and 1-0 at home, while Lyon finished top of the group stage with seven wins from eight matches to qualify directly for the last 16.
Celta has won four out of five Europa League games in front of its supporters and has already beaten French sides, Lille and Nice at home this campaign, but this is its first time in the knockout stages since the 2016-17 season when the team from Galicia reached the semi-finals.
Lyon may have dominated in the Europa League, but its domestic form has dipped recently with no win in the last four games, and its only Europa League loss came in Spain, 2-0 away to Betis in November.
Last season Lyon reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League before losing away to Manchester United, who produced a miracle late comeback when it seemed Lyon had booked a last-four place.
Pablo Duran is Celta's only injury worry for the tie, while Lyon could be without Afonso Moreira and Pavel Sulc with hamstring strains, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles has a groin injury. Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah will be sidelined with a torn cruciate ligament. ■
