Celta v Standard Liège background
Monday, November 7, 2016
Article summary
Celta Vigo have been scoring at a rate of two goals a Group G game since their last meeting with Standard – a good omen with the two sides fighting to join Ajax in the round of 32.
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Celta will look to keep the goals flowing in UEFA Europa League Group G as they welcome their matchday one hosts Standard, with both sides scrapping to join section leaders Ajax in the round of 32.
• Celta and Standard drew on matchday one so a win for either team would take them through.
• Ajax are through and will clinch first place with a victory at home to Panathinaikos, or a draw if Standard do not win; Panathinaikos must win and hope the other game is drawn.
Previous meetings
• Both goals were scored in the first 13 minutes as Celta held Standard to a 1-1 draw on matchday one.
• The clubs' only previous meeting came in the first round of the 2006/07 UEFA Cup, Celta winning 3-0 at home and then 1-0 away.
• Celta are yet to lose in five encounters with Belgian opposition: W2 D3 (W1 D1 at home).
• Standard's record in 12 UEFA matches against Spanish sides is W3 D2 L7 (W1 L4 in Spain).
Form guide
• Despite the 3-2 reverse at Ajax on matchday four, Celta have scored twice in each of their last three Group G fixtures.
• Standard's 3-0 success at Panathinaikos on 3 November was one of the best five away results in their European history – they have now won four away games 3-0 and one 4-1.
• This is Celta's first continental campaign since they made it through the group stage and into the round of 16 in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup.
• Standard have progressed in two of their five UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns but missed the cut in their last two attempts, most recently 2014/15.
Links and trivia
• The journey from Liege to Vigo is just over 1,400km.
• Celta boast Belgian talent in the form of forward Théo Bongonda, previously at Zulte Waregem from 2013–15.
The coaches
• Eduardo Berizzo played in the UEFA Champions League for both Marseille and Celta, the former Argentina centre-back returning to Europe in 2014 to take charge of the Galician club. He led them back into Europe with a sixth-placed finish in 2015/16.
• Aleksandar Janković replaced Yannick Ferrera at the Standard helm in early September. Once assistant to fellow Serb Slavoljub Muslin at several clubs, the 44-year-old has coached Crvena zvezda, Serbia's Under-21s and – in Belgium – Lokeren and Mechelen.