Celtic Park set for special European occasion as Celta Vigo fans make history

Martin O’Neill’s side face the Spanish outfit in the third round of league-phase fixtures, with both clubs desperately searching for their first points of the competition following two successive defeats.

Despite their disappointing start to the European campaign, Celta supporters have shown remarkable enthusiasm for the trip to Celtic Park, selling out their 3,000-ticket allocation.

The figure represents the club’s largest travelling support for a European fixture, surpassing the 2,500 fans who attended their Europa League semi-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2017.

It also exceeds the 2,900 supporters who travelled to Lyon for last season’s Europa League last-16 encounter.

Celta’s European history stretches back to 1971, when they faced Aberdeen in their first continental campaign, losing both legs of their UEFA Cup tie against the Scottish side.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Celta Vigo’s director of infrastructure, Carlos Cao, admitted the level of interest had surprised those in Glasgow.

He said: “In Glasgow they don’t understand why so many people from Vigo want to go to the game. For them, it’s just another game, but it is a very special match for our supporters.

“Lots of our fans bought a ticket first, then worried about travel and a hotel later!”