VfB Stuttgart Dominates Celtic in Europa League Playoff

omidbasir- In a stunning display, Bundesliga Europa League representatives VfB Stuttgart triumphed over Martin O’Neill’s Celtic with a 4-1 victory in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEL playoff at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Under the management of Sebastian Hoeneß, the Swabians dominated the encounter, leaving Celtic with bleak prospects ahead of the return leg at MHP Arena next week, making Stuttgart’s advancement appear highly likely.

This week, Bundesliga clubs have shown remarkable prowess in their European playoff fixtures. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, competing in the Champions League, also took significant steps toward advancing, leaving only Eintracht Frankfurt eliminated among the seven Bundesliga clubs participating in European football this season.

The match commenced with a brief interruption due to a protest from the Scottish ultras, symbolizing the cultural connection between German and Scottish football. Stuttgart took the lead in the 15th minute, as Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss, previously struggling for form, made an early impact by forcing Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel to punch away a long free kick. Just seven minutes later, El Khannouss scored his first goal of 2026, capitalizing on a defensive error.

VfB centre-back Finn Jeltsch intercepted a clearance from Schmeichel, allowing the ball to return to El Khannouss through Deniz Undav. The Leicester City loanee finished neatly with a shot into the left corner, taking advantage of Celtic’s defensive lapse. However, Stuttgart’s moment of brilliance was briefly overshadowed when Celtic equalized in the 21st minute, as Swedish international Benjamin Nygren rounded Nübel to score after a poor pass from Atakan Karazor.

Stuttgart quickly regained dominance, with El Khannouss netting his second goal in the 28th minute from an Angelo Stiller cross. Despite a deflection, El Khannouss remained alert and finished decisively. The visitors maintained control for the remainder of the half, effectively neutralizing Celtic’s attacks with a vigorous high press. While Celtic attempted a more aggressive approach after halftime, they found themselves trailing 1-3 when Jamie Leweling scored from distance in the 57th minute, with Schmeichel again failing to respond adequately.

Stuttgart had a fourth goal disallowed in the 60th minute, as Ermedin Demirovic was ruled offside. Although Celtic managed a few attempts, including a denied effort from Nygren, the atmosphere grew increasingly subdued as Stuttgart fans celebrated.

In the closing moments, substitute Nikolas Nartey assisted Tiago Tomas for the final goal at 90+3, marking Tomas’s fifth goal since his return to Stuttgart. This result likely extinguished any hopes for Celtic to advance in the Europa League.

Player ratings reflected an impressive team performance from Stuttgart, with only captain Atakan Karazor rated below average. Despite the Scots’ capitulation after Stuttgart’s third goal, El Khannouss stood out for his impactful performance, scoring twice and creating opportunities, although his performance was slightly marred by some turnovers. Overall, Stuttgart delivered a strong showing, affirming their position as a formidable contender in the tournament.