Celtic Park was buzzing on the night of February 19, 2026, as Celtic and VfB Stuttgart clashed in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout playoff. The stakes were sky-high: a place in the Round of 16 hung in the balance, and for Celtic’s legendary manager Martin O’Neill, it was a milestone 1,000th game in the dugout—a remarkable achievement in the world of football management.
The Scottish champions, riding a wave of confidence thanks to a ten-game unbeaten streak under O’Neill, had their sights set on making history. It had been nearly 22 years since the Hoops last won a European knockout tie, and anticipation was palpable among the home crowd. Stuttgart, however, arrived in Glasgow with their own ambitions. Sitting fourth in the Bundesliga and fresh off a 3-1 win over Köln, they were determined to make their mark on the continental stage.
“Stuttgart are flying at this moment, they're fourth in the Bundesliga, they're in a Champions League position,” O’Neill acknowledged before the match. “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.”
The lineups reflected both teams’ intent to go all out. Celtic started with Schmeichel in goal, a back four of Araujo, Trusty, Scales, and Tierney, and a midfield trio of Nygren, captain McGregor, and Bernardo. Up front, the attacking trio featured Tounekti, recent standout Tomáš Čvančara, and Maeda. Stuttgart, managed by Sebastian Hoeneß, countered with Nübel in goal, a defense of Vagnoman, Hendriks, Chabot, and Jeltsch, Karazor (captain) and Stiller in midfield, and an attacking line of Leweling, Undav, El Khannouss, and Demirovic. Notably, Stuttgart’s January signing Jeremy Arévalo was left out of the revised Europa League squad, while Angelo Stiller returned to the starting XI, and Bilal El Khannouss replaced Chris Führich in attack.
The match kicked off at 8 p.m. local time under the Parkhead floodlights, with fans across the UK tuning in via TNT Sports 1 and streaming live on discovery+. U.S. viewers caught the action on Paramount+, UniMás, TUDN, and ViX, with kickoff times adjusted for American audiences.
From the outset, Stuttgart showed why they’re one of Germany’s most exciting sides. Just 15 minutes in, disaster struck for the hosts. Celtic’s experienced goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, usually unflappable, misplayed a pass inside his own box. Bilal El Khannouss pounced, coolly slotting the ball home to give Stuttgart an early lead and silence the home support.
Celtic, however, refused to wilt. Only six minutes later, Benjamin Nygren capitalized on a rare error from Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor, bringing Celtic level with a composed finish that sent the crowd into raptures. The momentum seemed to shift, with Celtic pushing forward in search of a second. But the visitors had other ideas.
In the 28th minute, El Khannouss struck again. This time, the Leicester City loanee timed his run perfectly, meeting a pinpoint cross from Angelo Stiller with a powerful header to restore Stuttgart’s advantage. The German side’s attacking fluidity was on full display, and El Khannouss was at the heart of it, tormenting the Celtic defense with his movement and clinical finishing.
As halftime approached, both sides exchanged blows, but Stuttgart’s 2-1 lead remained intact. The second half saw Celtic come out of the blocks with renewed energy, but their efforts were repeatedly thwarted by a disciplined Stuttgart backline and the safe hands of Nübel between the sticks.
The decisive moment arrived in the 57th minute. Jamie Leweling, who had been lively all evening, found space outside the box and unleashed a thunderous strike that left Schmeichel rooted to the spot. Stuttgart’s traveling supporters erupted as their team went 3-1 up, seizing a commanding grip on the tie.
Celtic’s hopes flickered briefly when Ermedin Demirović had a goal ruled out for offside, but Stuttgart weren’t finished yet. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Tiago Tomás capped off a flowing counterattack, rifling a shot into the top corner to make it 4-1. The away side celebrated wildly, knowing they had one foot in the next round.
For O’Neill and Celtic, the scoreline was a bitter pill to swallow. Despite a spirited performance and flashes of attacking quality, defensive lapses proved costly. The Hoops had entered the match with a five-game home winning streak, having scored 14 goals in that run, but Stuttgart’s clinical edge proved the difference on the night.
Stuttgart’s performance was a testament to their recent form—they had won five of their last six matches and arrived in Glasgow brimming with confidence. Their European travels had sometimes been tricky, with only one win in four away Europa League games prior to this tie, but they showed no signs of nerves at Celtic Park. The Swabians’ depth was also on display, with Tiago Tomás coming off the bench to score, and their tactical flexibility under Hoeneß paying dividends.
“We knew Celtic would come at us, especially with the crowd behind them,” Hoeneß said post-match. “But we stuck to our plan, pressed high, and took our chances when they came. The job isn’t finished, but this is a fantastic result for us.”
Celtic’s European journey isn’t over yet. The second leg in Stuttgart looms large, and with the away goals rule no longer in effect, the Scottish champions will need a performance for the ages to overturn the deficit. Their last European knockout success dates back to the 2002-03 UEFA Cup, when they famously beat Stuttgart over two legs—ironically, the same opponent they now face.
As the dust settles on a dramatic night in Glasgow, both sides will turn their attention to domestic matters before the all-important return leg. For Celtic, the challenge is clear: regroup, refocus, and channel the spirit that has defined their season thus far. For Stuttgart, the task is to finish the job and secure their place in the Europa League Round of 16.
With history, pride, and European dreams on the line, all eyes will be on the Mercedes-Benz Arena next week. The tie isn’t over yet—if football has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected!