The Europa League 2025/26 second-leg play-off tie between Stuttgart (Germany) and Celtic (Scotland) will take place on 26 February at the MHP Arena. The first-leg score was 4:1 in favour of Stuttgart. Stuttgart vs Celtic: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Stuttgart
The Germans all but settled the qualification issue in the first leg. After thrashing Celtic 4:1, the team claimed a fifth win in their last six Europa League matches (one defeat). However, Sebastian Hoeness' men have conceded in a fourth straight game in this competition. At the same time, Stuttgart have scored at least twice in five of their previous seven Europa League fixtures. To reach the last 16, the club can even lose the return leg by a two-goal margin.
- There have been goals in both halves in each of the Germans’ last five Europa League matches.
- In this competition, the team are on a four-match winning run at home.
- In six of Stuttgart’s previous eight home Europa League matches, they have not conceded more than one goal.
Potential Stuttgart Lineup (4-3-3)*
Alexander Nubel – Josha Vagnoman, Julian Chabot, Finn Jeltsch, Ramon Hendriks – Atakan Karazor, Bilal El Khannouss, Angelo Stiller – Ermedin Demirovic, Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling.
Defenders Luca-Jannis Kilian, Timo Hubers and Joel Schmid will miss out through injury. Defender Julian Chabot is suspended.
Celtic
Since September 2021, the Scots have not suffered any heavy defeats in the Europa League. Celtic’s defensive problems played the biggest role here. In this season’s tournament, the club have not kept a single clean sheet, and in their previous four matches they have conceded at least two goals. To progress, Martin O'Neill’s men need to beat the Germans by a four-goal margin. If the team win by exactly three, the tie will go to extra time. However, in the Europa League 2025/26, the Scots have won by a maximum margin of two goals.
- The team have conceded first in six of their previous eight Europa League matches.
- Away from home, the club have failed to win in six of their last eight matches in this competition (two draws, four defeats).
- Celtic have scored in 15 straight away Europa League matches.
Potential Celtic Lineup (4-5-1)*
Kasper Schmeichel – Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Julian Araujo, Auston Trusty – Sebastian Tounceti, Benjamin Nygren, Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, Paulo Bernardo – Tomas Cvancara.
Defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston, midfielders Arne Engels and Callum Osmand, as well as forward Jota Neves, are injured.
Referee
Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Matches officiated – 7 (international matches, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second bookings) – 27;
Yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 57%.
Stuttgart vs Celtic: Match Prediction
Given the Scots’ away results in the Europa League, it is hard to see Celtic producing a shock and overturning such a deficit. Still, we are confident Martin O'Neill’s men will at least try to bow out of the competition with dignity. In the Europa League 2025/26, the club have failed to score in only two matches, both at home. Away from home, the team have found the net in 15 straight Europa League games, and on eight occasions the Scots have scored at least twice.
The Germans owe their strong results to their forward line. It is the team’s attack that offsets their defensive issues. In the league phase, Sebastian Hoeness’ men kept only opponents from the bottom third of the standings at bay. The club are on a four-match run of conceding in this competition, and even at home the Germans have kept just one clean sheet in their previous seven Europa League matches.
Prediction: Celtic, over 0.5 goals
* For each team, the starting XI from their last match in this competition is listed.
