Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Thursday, February 19, 2026, 6:48 p.m. / Updated Thursday, February 19, 2026, 6:48 p.m.
Tonight, from 19:45, in Thessaloniki there will be a Romanian derby for a place in the round of 16 of the Europa League. PAOK and Celta Vigothe teams of Răzvan Lucescu and Ionuț Radu, will play the 1st leg of the play-off. The duel will be broadcast in liveTEXT format on GSP.ro and on TV on Prima Sport 1 and Digi Sport 1.
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The second leg between PAOK and Celta Vigo is scheduled for Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 p.m. in Spain.
PAOK and Celta Vigo have met before this Europa League season, in the group stage. In October 2025, the Spaniards beat the Greeks 3-1, in Vigo, Ionuț Radu being a full-time player in that match.
HERE are available all the results and the full schedule from the round leg of the Europa League quarter-finals
LIVE from 19:45 » PAOK – Celta Vigo
PAOK – Celta Vigo, the starting teams
PAOK: Tsiftsis – Kenny, Vogliacco, Lovren, Taylor – Camara, Ozdoev – Zivkovic, Zafeiris, Taison – Jeremejeff
Reserves: Pavlenka, Monastirlis, Michailidis, Kędziora, Baba, Bianco, Thymianis, Sánchez, Berdos, Chatzidis, Mythou
Coach: Răzvan Lucescu
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The Romanian technician is suspended by UEFA and he will not sit on the bench for this match, as a result of what happened in the 2-4 match at Lyon's ground, the last of the group stage, when the Romanian technician was eliminated after having a nervous breakdown on the side of the field
Celtic: I. Radu – Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Alonso, Carreira – Mingueza, Román, Moriba – Aspas, Borja Iglesias, Swedberg
reserves: Villar, Jutglà, Fernández, Vecino, Rueda, Pablo Durán, Ristić, Álvarez, Domínguez, Lago, Fer López, El-Abdellaoui
Coach: Claudio Giraldez
Stadium: Toumba Stadium
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak
What Răzvan Lucescu and Ionuț Radu said before the live match on Thursday
Then we were going through a complicated moment and, two days away, the derby with Olympiacos was coming up. We were not allowed to lose. The strategy was different. Now we have more confidence and a better mindset. Celta have moved up the table in Spain, it will be a difficult match for both teams. We have to pay attention to every detail.
We have a lot of tough games and we have to keep our minds clear. Despite the absences, we have to come in strong and every player show they can cope. To fight and give everything, with or without the ball. It will take 150% to get a positive result.
– Răzvan Lucescu, before the match on Thursday evening
These matches really motivate me because we live for it. It's our duty, we have to be ready for anything. For us it is something positive to play here. It will be a greater experience in European stadiums. This is now the most important moment of my career, because we reached the Europa League play-offs.
For me it is a pride to be here with this team, with whom I prepare very well every day. It's like a family to me. Every day I intend to give my all to help my team
I hope we can change PAOK's record, we have to. I have never played in Greece, now is the first time. I was just on vacation here. It's a very passionate atmosphere and it's great to play here. I can't wait for this match.
He is the son of our national team coach, a good coach, and he has improved since the defeat at our ground. I must congratulate him. It is a source of pride for Romania to have two Romanians in this phase of the Europa League, but unfortunately, only one can advance. I'm glad to see him
– Ionuț Radu, before tonight's match
