The second-leg Europa League 2025/26 play-off tie between Stuttgart (Germany) and Celtic (Scotland) will take place on 26 February at the MHP Arena. The score in the first leg was 4:1 in Stuttgart’s favour. Stuttgart vs Celtic: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Stuttgart
The Germans all but settled the tie in the first leg, thrashing Celtic 4:1 to record their fifth win in six recent Europa League matches (one defeat). However, the team have conceded in four consecutive games 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 round of 16, the club can even lose the return leg by a two-goal margin.
- A goal has been scored in both halves in each of the Germans’ last five Europa League matches.
- On home soil in this competition, the team are on a four-match winning run.
- In six of Stuttgart’s previous eight home Europa League games, the club have not conceded more than once.
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 a heavy defeat in the Europa League. Celtic’s defensive issues played the key role here. In the current edition of the tournament, the club have not kept a clean sheet even once, while in their previous four matches they conceded at least two goals each time. To progress, the team coached by Martin O’Neill need to beat the Germans by a four-goal margin. If the visitors win by exactly three, the tie will go to extra time. However, in the Europa League 2025/26, the Scots have won by a margin of no more than 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 six of their last eight matches in this competition (two draws, four defeats).
- Celtic have scored in 15 consecutive away Europa League games.
Potential Celtic Lineup (4-5-1)*
Kasper Schmeichel – Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Julian Araujo, Auston Trusty – Sebastian Tounakti, 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 – 7 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second cautions) – 27;
Yellow cards per match on average – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Fouls per match on average – 22;
Penalties – 57%.
Stuttgart vs Celtic: Match Prediction
Given the Scots’ away results in the Europa League, it is unlikely Celtic will spring a surprise and overturn such a deficit. However, we are confident the team coached by Martin O’Neill will at least try to bow out of the tournament with their heads held high. 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 scored at least twice.
The Germans owe their strong results to their attacking play. The team’s forward line is precisely what offsets their defensive problems. In the league phase, the team coached by Sebastian Hoeness only managed to keep out opponents from the bottom third of the standings. The club are on a four-match run of conceding in this tournament, 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 lineup listed is from their last match in this competition.
