Under the bright lights of Celtic Park on February 19, 2026, history was made—but not in the way the home crowd had hoped. The UEFA Europa League knockout playoff first leg saw VfB Stuttgart storm to a commanding 4-1 victory over Celtic, putting the German side firmly in the driver’s seat ahead of next week’s return fixture. For Celtic, it was a night that began with optimism—Martin O’Neill, the legendary manager who has revitalized the club since his return, was marking his 1,000th game in the dugout. The atmosphere was electric, with fans eager to witness their team’s first European knockout tie in nearly 22 years. Yet, as the final whistle blew, it was Stuttgart’s traveling contingent who had reason to sing the loudest.
Both teams entered the tie riding waves of domestic form. Celtic, third in the Scottish Premiership, were on a five-match winning streak and unbeaten in ten games across all competitions since O’Neill’s comeback. Their last Europa League outing—a draw with Bologna—had been enough to secure 21st in the group phase and a ticket to the knockouts, clinched with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Utrecht. At home, they’d notched five straight wins, netting 14 goals in the process. Stuttgart, meanwhile, sat fourth in the Bundesliga and had just dispatched FC Köln 3-1, their fifth triumph in six matches. The Germans had finished 11th in the Europa League table, four points clear of their Scottish hosts. The stakes were high: a place in the Round of 16 hung in the balance, and both sides were eager to seize early momentum.
As the lineups were announced, Celtic supporters buzzed with anticipation. O’Neill fielded Schmeichel in goal, with Araujo, Trusty, Scales, and Tierney across the back. Nygren, McGregor (captain), and Bernardo anchored the midfield, while Tounekti, Tomáš Čvančara, and Maeda formed the attacking trio. Čvančara, on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach, had already tallied three direct goal involvements in his first four Celtic appearances and was tipped as a player to watch. Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß countered with Nübel in goal; Vagnoman, Hendriks, Chabot, and Jeltsch at the back; Karazor (captain) and Stiller in midfield; and an attacking line of Leweling, Undav, El Khannouss, and Demirovic. Notably, January signing Jeremy Arévalo was omitted from the Europa League squad, while Angelo Stiller returned to the starting eleven after impressing off the bench against Köln. Bilal El Khannouss replaced Chris Führich, adding fresh legs to Stuttgart’s offensive arsenal.
The match kicked off at 8 p.m. local time, broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK and streamed via discovery+ and Paramount+ in the U.S. The opening exchanges were tense, with both sides probing for an early advantage. But it was Stuttgart who drew first blood. On 15 minutes, Celtic’s veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was caught in possession, gifting the ball to Bilal El Khannouss. The Leicester City loanee made no mistake, coolly slotting home to silence the home faithful and give Stuttgart a precious away goal.
Celtic, to their credit, responded with vigor. Just six minutes later, Atakan Karazor’s miscue in midfield allowed Benjamin Nygren to pounce, and the Swedish midfielder fired past Nübel to restore parity. The roar from the stands was deafening—could this be the spark Celtic needed to seize control?
Unfortunately for the hosts, Stuttgart had other ideas. El Khannouss, already tormenting the Celtic backline, struck again in the 28th minute. This time, he rose highest to meet a pinpoint cross from Angelo Stiller, directing a header beyond Schmeichel to reclaim the lead for the Bundesliga side. It was a clinical finish, and one that underscored Stuttgart’s growing confidence as the half wore on.
At the break, the score stood at 2-1 in favor of the visitors. Celtic emerged for the second half with renewed intent, but their efforts were repeatedly stymied by Stuttgart’s disciplined defense and swift counterattacks. The German side’s third goal, when it arrived in the 57th minute, was a hammer blow. Jamie Leweling, finding space outside the area, unleashed a powerful drive that left Schmeichel rooted to the spot. Moments later, Ermedin Demirović thought he had added a fourth, only for the linesman’s flag to rule the effort out for offside.
O’Neill made changes in a bid to spark a late revival, but Stuttgart’s organization and composure never wavered. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Tiago Tomás put the result beyond doubt, rifling home from close range to cap a memorable night for the visitors. The final whistle confirmed a 4-1 victory for Stuttgart—an emphatic statement in hostile territory and a daunting deficit for Celtic to overturn in the second leg.
After the match, Martin O’Neill acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. “Stuttgart are flying at this moment, they’re fourth in the Bundesliga, they’re in a Champions League position,” he said. “I’ve had a look at them and obviously they’re very strong, physical and have got a lot of good players playing for them. They’ll be difficult games for us, but while we’re there, let’s go for it.” His words echoed the sentiment of many in the Celtic camp: disappointment, yes, but also a resolve to fight for redemption in Germany.
For Stuttgart, the performance was a testament to their resilience and attacking flair. Bilal El Khannouss’s brace will grab the headlines, but the contributions from Leweling, Stiller, and Tomás highlighted the depth and cohesion of Hoeneß’s squad. The result also extended Stuttgart’s impressive European campaign, which had already seen them notch five wins in eight Europa League outings. Their only blemish—a solitary win in four away group matches—was emphatically erased by this display in Glasgow.
The defeat leaves Celtic with a mountain to climb in the return leg, but if there’s one thing O’Neill’s tenure has taught the Parkhead faithful, it’s to never write off their team. With pride—and a place in the Round of 16—at stake, all eyes will turn to Stuttgart next week for what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to this European tie.