Previews
THU 16.03.2017
RC Celta are all set for their most eagerly awaited game of the season to date. The Vigo outfit are looking to keep their dreams of UEFA Europa League glory alive by overcoming the tricky hurdle posed by a visit to FC Krasnodar.
Although they are going through a slightly rough patch domestically, the Galicians enter this crunch encounter buoyed by Claudio Beauvue's last-minute winner in the round-of-16 first leg at Balaidos, which ended 2-1 to the LaLiga Santander club. Now their aim is to finish the job in Russia and reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the fourth time in their history – and the first since their three consecutive runs to the last eight between 1999 and 2001.
FT Celta 2-1 Krasnodar
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) March 9, 2017
A Claudio Beauvue goal on the stroke of full time hands Celta a valuable first-leg lead at Balaidos! #UEL pic.twitter.com/5OkQzIeeL9
Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo will be able to call upon close to a full-strength squad, with Ruben Blanco and Marcelo Diaz his only sidelined players. The Argentinian coach will be particularly pleased to welcome back influential midfielder Pablo Hernandez, who is available for selection again after missing the club's last four matches because of a muscular problem.
Krasnodar also head into the clash in high spirits on the back of a 2-1 victory away to FC Lokomotiv Moscow, secured through goals from Pavel Mamaev and Wanderson. What's more, Igor Shalimov's side haven't lost at home in the Europa League since 20 October 2016, when FC Schalke 04 claimed the spoils thanks to a solitary strike from former Sevilla FC schemer Yevhen Konoplyanka.
© LALIGA - 2017