VfB Stuttgart approaches the return leg against Celtic Glasgow in the Europa League round of 32 with a comfortable three-goal advantage. The German team, led by Sebastian Hoeneß, has a huge opportunity to advance to the next round after a convincing victory in the first leg. Meanwhile, frustration prevails in the Scottish camp, further intensified by controversies surrounding the video assistant referee system and defensive squad shortages.

Stuttgart Defends a High Lead

The German team won the first leg by three goals and is the clear favorite to advance to the round of 16.

Angelo Stiller's Return

The key VfB Stuttgart midfielder is fully fit and will start in the lineup against Celtic.

Martin O'Neill's Fury

The Celtic manager sharply attacks the VAR system after the rejection of an appeal regarding Auston Trusty's red card.

VfB Stuttgart players are preparing for the decisive clash with Celtic Glasgow, mindful of their high-scoring win from the first match. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß, despite the favorable result, warns his players against underestimating the opponent, who can be extremely dangerous on their home ground. Good news for German fans is the return to fitness of key midfielder Angelo Stiller, who has recovered from a minor injury and will be ready to play from the first minute. The German team dreams of advancing to the round of 16 of the Europa League, which would be a significant success on the international stage after years of absence from the top. Completely different moods prevail in Glasgow. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has publicly criticized the functioning of the VAR system, calling it a process that "weakens" the authority of referees on the pitch. The direct cause of the manager's frustration is the unsuccessful appeal against the red card received by Auston Trusty. O'Neill believes the main referee initially did not plan to send the player off until he was forced to do so by suggestions from the video assistants. Trusty's absence is a major blow to Celtic's defense, which must overcome a three-goal deficit to keep their hopes of advancement alive. VfB Stuttgart is a five-time German champion whose greatest successes in European cups were celebrated in the 1980s and 1990s, including reaching the UEFA Cup final in 1989.In the shadow of the big football event, other developments in European cups have taken place. In Italy, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano warns against underestimating Norwegian side Brann in the playoff return leg playoff, recalling painful lessons that Italian teams have previously received from Scandinavian side Bodø/Glimt. Meanwhile, in handball, German side MT Melsungen suffered their first defeat of the season in the European League. The team from Hesse lost mainly due to numerous injuries in the squad, which ended their winning streak and forced the coaching staff to reassess plans for the next phase of the competition. „Such a nonsense. The referee has seen the incident, it's not like he hasn't seen it, until he's asked by a very excited man on VAR.” — Martin O'Neill

Mentioned People

  • Martin O'Neill — Manager of Celtic Glasgow, former Republic of Ireland international, critic of VAR technology.
  • Sebastian Hoeneß — Coach of VfB Stuttgart, architect of the team's successes in recent Bundesliga seasons.
  • Angelo Stiller — German footballer playing as a midfielder for VfB Stuttgart.