UEFA Europa League

Celtic vs FC Utrecht, 2025-26 UEFA Europa League, League Phase

· UEFA Europa League
  • 6': Benjamin Nygren
  • 10': Nick Viergever (OG)
  • 19': Arne Engels (P)
  • 66': Auston Trusty
FT
4 - 2
  • 44': Dani de Wit
  • 62': Adrian Blake

Celtic secure Europa League playoff spot with resounding win over Utrecht

Celtic set up a Europa League play-off clash with either Ferencvaros or Stuttgart after beating Dutch side FC Utrecht 4-2 in their final group stage match at Celtic Park.

Match Timeline

  • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
  • 0': First Half begins.
  • 1': Corner, FC Utrecht. Conceded by Colby Donovan.
  • 5': Daizen Maeda (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 5': Foul by Alonzo Engwanda (FC Utrecht).
  • 6': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Derry John Murkin.
  • 6': Goal! Celtic 1, FC Utrecht 0. Benjamin Nygren (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kieran Tierney following a corner.
  • 7': Arne Engels (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 7': Foul by Miguel Rodríguez (FC Utrecht).
  • 10': Own Goal by Nick Viergever, FC Utrecht. Celtic 2, FC Utrecht 0.
  • 12': Foul by Liam Scales (Celtic).
  • 12': Miguel Rodríguez (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 14': Foul by Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht).
  • 14': Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 15': Attempt saved. Benjamin Nygren (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Vasilios Barkas (FC Utrecht).
  • 15': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasilios Barkas.
  • 15': Attempt blocked. Liam Scales (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Tierney with a cross.
  • 16': Attempt blocked. Auston Trusty (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum McGregor with a cross.
  • 16': Penalty conceded by Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht) with a handball in the penalty area.
  • 17': VAR Decision: Penalty Celtic.
  • 19': Goal! Celtic 3, FC Utrecht 0. Arne Engels (Celtic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
  • 22': Derry John Murkin (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 22': Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
  • 28': Foul by Auston Trusty (Celtic).
  • 28': Yoann Cathline (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 31': Foul by Miguel Rodríguez (FC Utrecht).
  • 31': Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 32': Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Benjamin Nygren with a cross.
  • 33': Derry John Murkin (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 33': Foul by Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic).
  • 33': Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 35': Corner, FC Utrecht. Conceded by Arne Engels.
  • 36': Delay in match (Celtic).
  • 36': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 37': Attempt missed. Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
  • 38': Adrian Blake (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 38': Foul by Benjamin Nygren (Celtic).
  • 39': Foul by Arne Engels (Celtic).
  • 39': Miguel Rodríguez (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 39': Arne Engels (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 44': Goal! Celtic 3, FC Utrecht 1. Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Niklas Vesterlund.
  • 45'+1': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
  • 45'+1': Adrian Blake (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 45'+1': Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
  • 45'+2': Attempt saved. Niklas Vesterlund (FC Utrecht) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Kasper Schmeichel (Celtic). Assisted by Adrian Blake.
  • 45'+2': Corner, FC Utrecht. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.
  • 45'+3': Attempt missed. Adrian Blake (FC Utrecht) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.
  • 45'+3': First Half ends, Celtic 3, FC Utrecht 1.
  • 45': Second Half begins Celtic 3, FC Utrecht 1.
  • 46': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dani de Wit.
  • 48': Foul by Benjamin Nygren (Celtic).
  • 48': Niklas Vesterlund (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 52': Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
  • 52': Niklas Vesterlund (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 56': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Niklas Vesterlund.
  • 59': Attempt saved. Benjamin Nygren (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner by Vasilios Barkas (FC Utrecht). Assisted by Yang Hyun-Jun.
  • 59': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasilios Barkas.
  • 59': Foul by Benjamin Nygren (Celtic).
  • 59': Vasilios Barkas (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 61': Substitution, FC Utrecht. Can Bozdogan replaces Miguel Rodríguez.
  • 61': Substitution, FC Utrecht. Souffian El Karouani replaces Derry John Murkin.
  • 62': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mike van der Hoorn.
  • 62': Goal! Celtic 3, FC Utrecht 2. Adrian Blake (FC Utrecht) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gjivai Zechiël with a through ball following a fast break.
  • 64': Souffian El Karouani (FC Utrecht) is shown the yellow card.
  • 65': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Niklas Vesterlund.
  • 66': Goal! Celtic 4, FC Utrecht 2. Auston Trusty (Celtic) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Arne Engels with a cross following a corner.
  • 67': Corner, FC Utrecht. Conceded by Colby Donovan.
  • 68': Substitution, Celtic. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Daizen Maeda.
  • 68': Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Sebastian Tounekti.
  • 70': Corner, FC Utrecht. Conceded by Colby Donovan.
  • 70': Attempt missed. Gjivai Zechiël (FC Utrecht) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
  • 73': Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
  • 73': Mike van der Hoorn (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 75': Offside, Celtic. Kelechi Iheanacho is caught offside.
  • 77': Foul by Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht).
  • 77': Liam Scales (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 78': Substitution, Celtic. Luke McCowan replaces Yang Hyun-Jun.
  • 78': Substitution, Celtic. Paulo Bernardo replaces Arne Engels.
  • 78': Substitution, FC Utrecht. Björn Menzo replaces Yoann Cathline.
  • 78': Foul by Can Bozdogan (FC Utrecht).
  • 78': Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 82': Björn Menzo (FC Utrecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 82': Foul by Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
  • 83': Attempt blocked. Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adrian Blake.
  • 84': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Nick Viergever.
  • 85': Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Vasilios Barkas.
  • 86': Substitution, FC Utrecht. Rafik El Arguioui replaces Gjivai Zechiël.
  • 86': Substitution, FC Utrecht. Davy van den Berg replaces Adrian Blake.
  • 90': Attempt blocked. Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
  • 90'+1': Offside, FC Utrecht. Björn Menzo is caught offside.
  • 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
  • 90'+2': Substitution, Celtic. Dane Murray replaces Kieran Tierney.
  • 90'+4': Second Half ends, Celtic 4, FC Utrecht 2.
  • 0': Match ends, Celtic 4, FC Utrecht 2.

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/153.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originUTR CELhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/256.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
7 Fouls 12
1 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
1 Offsides 1
5 Corner Kicks 9
2 Saves 1
48.1 Possession 51.9
6 SHOTS 10
3 ON GOAL 5
0.5 On Target % 0.5
0 Penalty Goals 2
0 Penalty Kicks Taken 1
388 Accurate Passes 425
459 Passes 492
0.8 Pass Completion % 0.9
2 Accurate Crosses 4
15 Crosses 18
0.1 Cross % 0.2
41 Long Balls 24
20 Accurate Long Balls 11
0.5 Long Balls % 0.5
1 Blocked Shots 3
5 Effective Tackles 15
9 Tackles 18
0.6 Tackle % 0.8
6 Interceptions 5
28 Effective Clearances 17
28 Clearances 17

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Europa League

Venue: Celtic Park
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Attendance: 55,559

UEFA Europa League Table

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Lyon 8 +13 21
2 Aston Villa 8 +8 21
3 FC Midtjylland 8 +10 19
4 Real Betis 8 +6 17
Full Table

Line-Ups

CEL Celtic (4-4-2)

No. Name
1 Kasper Schmeichel (GK)
5 Liam Scales
6 Auston Trusty
63 Kieran Tierney
51 Colby Donovan
42 Callum McGregor
27 Arne Engels
23 Sebastian Tounekti
13 Yang Hyun-Jun Yellow Card
8 Benjamin Nygren
38 Daizen Maeda

UTR FC Utrecht (4-2-3-1)

No. Name
1 Vasilios Barkas (GK)
24 Nick Viergever
3 Mike van der Hoorn
55 Derry John Murkin
23 Niklas Vesterlund
20 Dani de Wit
21 Gjivai Zechiël
27 Alonzo Engwanda
22 Miguel Rodríguez
10 Yoann Cathline
15 Adrian Blake

UEFA Europa League News

Explained: How 11 English teams can qualify for Europe next season
Explained: How 11 English teams can qualify for Europe next season

ESPN takes a look at exactly how the extraordinary scenario of 11 English teams qualifying for Europe can occur.

Can Roberto De Zerbi realistically keep Tottenham up?
Can Roberto De Zerbi realistically keep Tottenham up?

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens react to Tottenham Hotspur appointing Roberto De as head coach.

'Big kid' Emi Martínez leads Aston Villa to Europa League last 8
'Big kid' Emi Martínez leads Aston Villa to Europa League last 8

Aston Villa captain John McGinn hailed the exploits of Emiliano Martínez after the goalkeeper helped the Premier League side into the Europa League quarterfinals.

Aston Villa ease past Lille to Europa League quarterfinals
Aston Villa ease past Lille to Europa League quarterfinals

A moment of brilliance from Emiliano Martínez helped Aston Villa reach a third successive European quarterfinal as they saw off Lille in the Europa League.

Crystal Palace in Europa League quarters a 'huge achievement' - Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace in Europa League quarters a 'huge achievement' - Oliver Glasner

Oliver Glasner hailed Crystal Palace's latest European milestone after Ismaïla Sarr's extra-time winner at nine-man AEK Larnaca booked a Conference League quarterfinal against Fiorentina.