After a bruising 4-1 defeat at the hands of Stuttgart last Thursday, Celtic’s hopes of securing progress to the Europa League Round of 16 were hanging by a thread. A three-goal deficit for Martin O’Neill’s men to overturn, even by doing that it would only buy them 30 minutes of extra-time.
Celtic with nothing to lose after suffering defeat in both league and European competition in the past 10 days, their trip to the MHP Arena resembling a free hit. Their level of performance simply had to be a lot better than it was a week ago.
While the Bhoys got off to a perfect start, straight out of the blocks against their German opponents. 28 second on the clock and the visitors were on the scoresheet. Luke McCowan’s strike the earliest to be scored in the Europa League since 2016.
Lessening the Deficit
A goal to the good, almost a full match quota in order to find two more. The aggregate score now 4-2 to Stuttgart. Such was the early timing of the goal; it almost felt as if that was the outcome when the two sides met at Celtic Park a week previously.
The first steps of an unlikely comeback complete and if Celtic could get a second unanswered strike on the road, it would have only transferred the pressure to Stuttgart’s shoulders. Unfortunately for last season’s Scottish Premiership champions, they failed to find further reasons to be cheerful.
A much changed side with Sunday’s Old Firm clash in mind, the focus was on goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. The Finnish ‘keeper replacing Danish counterpart Kasper Schmeichel and offering a performance to give manager Martin O’Neill a decision to make before the weekend.
The 39-year-old Schmeichel has certainly shown signs of that age during the lower points of Celtic’s campaign, none more so than in their first leg thrashing to Stuttgart. Whether his rest is elongated to the weekend, is a neat subplot before the team’s trip to Ibrox.
Stuttgart Safely Through
While there will be no further European trips until the 2026/27 season and although Stuttgart were stunned early on, the Bundesliga outfit made Celtic sweat for their eventual 1-0 win. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side seeing not one but two goals ruled out.
The offside flag coming to Celtic’s aid on both occasions. Chris Fuhrich and Denis Undav both seeing their celebrations curtailed. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things, Stuttgart fans joyful at the final whistle.
That same set of fans now with a keen eye on the Round of 16 draw, they know at least one trip to Portugal will be required. Either Braga or Porto lie in wait as Stuttgart’s next European opponents, clear that hurdle and it could be Nottingham Forest in the last eight.
By comparison, Celtic’s title hopes could be in the last chance saloon if results go against them in the Scottish Premiership this weekend. Already at the risk of Hearts pulling further clear if they get the better of Aberdeen the day before, the stakes could not be higher before their clash with Rangers.
