This was a classic clash between territorial dominance and space control. Lille monopolised the ball with 74% possession and 610 passes at 90% accuracy, circulating patiently in a 4-4-1-1 structure. Yet Celta Vigo, in a 3-4-3, dictated the terms without the ball. With only 26% possession and 222 passes (66% accuracy), they accepted a deep, compact game, especially after going down to 10 men in the 29th minute. The red card to Hugo Sotelo forced Celta into a low block, prioritising central protection and fast transitions. Lille controlled the ball; Celta controlled the spaces that mattered and the scoreboard.
Offensive Efficiency
The attacking contrast was stark. Lille fired 20 total shots, with 8 from inside the box and 12 from distance, but only 4 hit the target. Their expected goals of 1.53 underline that they created volume rather than consistently clear openings. Seven blocked shots highlight how often Celta’s back line got bodies in front, turning Lille’s sterile domination into harmless pressure.
Celta, by contrast, were ruthlessly efficient. From just 7 total shots, 4 were on target and 3 came from inside the box, supported by only 3 corners. Their xG of 1.23 from such limited attacking time shows a game plan built on high-quality, not high-quantity, chances. Quick vertical attacks from the front three and well-timed set-piece or second-phase situations allowed them to maximise each rare foray forward. While Lille’s structure produced crosses and shots from range, Celta’s rare possessions were more purposeful, translating into a better goals-to-shots ratio and ultimately a 2-1 win.
Defensive Discipline & Intensity
Celta’s entire performance hinged on defensive sacrifice. Despite committing only 9 fouls, they collected 4 yellow cards and a red, showing how often they had to make last-ditch or tactical interventions to break Lille’s rhythm. The 3 saves for Ionuț Radu suggest that, while under territorial siege, Celta limited truly dangerous on-target efforts through positioning and blocks rather than relying solely on goalkeeping heroics.
Lille’s 11 fouls and 2 yellow cards point to a more controlled, less desperate defensive phase, as they spent most of the match in attack. Their goalkeeper Berke Özer made just 2 saves, underlining that when Celta did break, they often finished actions clinically rather than peppering the goal. Offside counts (2 for Celta, 3 for Lille) indicate occasional attempts to stretch the lines, but the main defensive story was Celta’s compact, numbers-behind-the-ball approach after the dismissal.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Celta Vigo’s compact block and ruthless efficiency with 26% possession trumped Lille’s 74% sterile domination and 20-shot volume. By turning few attacks into high-quality chances and defending their box with discipline and numbers, Celta’s game plan outperformed Lille’s possession-heavy but blunt approach.
