VfB Stuttgart took a giant step towards qualification for the Europa League round of 16 by defeating Celtic Glasgow 4:1 away. On an evening meant to celebrate Martin O’Neill's 1000th match as a manager, the fans gathered at Celtic Park witnessed the visitors' dominance. Bilal El Khannouss was the hero of the match, scoring two goals. Kasper Schmeichel had a disastrous performance, whose mistakes brought the Scottish club closer to elimination from European competitions.

Dominance of VfB Stuttgart

The German team demolished Celtic 4:1, with Bilal El Khannouss scoring two goals, bringing the club closer to the round of 16.

Crisis of Kasper Schmeichel

The Danish goalkeeper was booed by fans after making a series of errors that led to conceded goals.

Degradation of Scottish football

Poor results in Europe will cause Scotland to lose one Champions League spot and reduce the total number of teams in European cups.

Protests at Celtic Park

The start of the match was disrupted by fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch, which was criticized by manager Martin O'Neill.

The match at Celtic Park began with an unusual incident when home fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch, forcing a several-minute stoppage. After play resumed, VfB Stuttgart quickly took the initiative. Bilal El Khannouss opened the scoring in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a shaky defensive intervention. Although Benjamin Nygren managed to equalize, the German team regained the lead before halftime. The second half was a showcase of the visitors' efficiency and a festival of errors by Celtic's goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper became the main target of fan frustration, who booed him every time he touched the ball. Experts and media unanimously criticized the 39-year-old for his lack of reaction to long-range shots and poor positioning. Goals for the Bundesliga side were scored by Jamie Leweling and Tiago Tomás, sealing the 4:1 result. For Stuttgart, this is a huge chance for their first advancement to the knockout stage of European competitions since 2013. The return leg in Germany now seems like a mere formality, putting Scottish football in a difficult position. Scotland has been struggling with regression in European cups for years. Since the Champions League reform in 2024, clubs from Glasgow have had difficulty keeping pace with the financial giants from the continent's top leagues. This defeat has broader implications than just sporting disappointment for fans in Glasgow. According to the latest forecasts, the poor results of Scottish teams this season will lead to painful consequences in the UEFA ranking. From the 2026/2027 season, the Scottish Premiership will likely lose one spot in the Champions League, meaning the country's champion will not have a guaranteed place in the league phase. The number of Scottish representatives in European cups will drop from five to four, drastically reducing the budget revenues of the local clubs. „It was a difficult evening both on and off the pitch. I don't understand certain fan protests; they should be moving in the same direction as the team.” — Martin O’Neill Europa League Play-off - first leg: Celtic Glasgow 1:4 VfB Stuttgart 1000 — matches as a manager Martin O’Neill reached on the evening of the defeat to Stuttgart

Mentioned People

  • Martin O'Neill — Manager of Celtic Glasgow, celebrating his 1000th match in his professional career.
  • Kasper Schmeichel — Goalkeeper for the Denmark national team and Celtic, criticized for a poor performance.
  • Bilal El Khannouss — Moroccan midfielder for VfB Stuttgart, scorer of two goals.
  • Sebastian Hoeneß — Manager of VfB Stuttgart, architect of the victory in Glasgow.