Balaídos will be the focal point of European football this evening at 21:00 as Celta Vigo faces Bologna in the fifth match of the Europa League group stage. Similar to previous matches held in Balaídos, this game has drawn a significant security presence, especially with the arrival of over a thousand Italian fans, alongside a vibrant pre-game atmosphere created by Celta supporters.
The National Police coordinated a comprehensive plan to manage the movement of Bologna fans, with approximately 1,100 supporters making the trip, including around a hundred known ultras. Earlier in the afternoon, police regrouped the visiting fans, who were initially scattered across the Areal and Praza de Compostela areas, directing them to Montero Ríos. The Italian group then marched under police escort towards the stadium.
The arrival of the Bologna fans also impacted local traffic, causing major congestion in the O Berbés area and surprising many drivers in the Beiramar tunnel.
In conjunction with the match, Celta supporters are holding a “macro European pre-party” outside the stadium, culminating just before kickoff with a performance from Hard GZ. The artist will perform “Voltarei,” a song that celebrates migration and serves as the club’s anthem for their European aspirations. This evening promises to be not just a football match, but a celebration of culture and community in Vigo.