Stuttgart vs Celtic Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest Europa League Odds for Play-Off Leg 2
A crucial Europa League clash sees high-flying Stuttgart host Celtic at home on Wednesday, 26th February 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 UTC. The German side arrives with a commanding lead from the first leg, while the Scottish champions face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in this knockout encounter.
OC Staff - February 26, 2026, 8:30 AM EST
3 Minute ReadStuttgart vs Celtic: Lineups, Team News and Prediction
A crucial Europa League clash sees high-flying Stuttgart host Celtic at home on Wednesday, 26th February 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 UTC. The German side arrives with a commanding lead from the first leg, while the Scottish champions face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in this knockout encounter.
Stuttgart vs Celtic Form
Stuttgart come into this fixture on the back of a thrilling 3-3 draw away to FC Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, a result that followed their dominant 4-1 victory over Celtic in the first leg of this tie. The German outfit has been in formidable scoring form, finding the net at least once in all of their last six matches. Their recent run includes a solid 3-1 home win against FC Koln and a 3-0 away win in the DFB-Pokal against Holstein Kiel, showcasing their ability to perform across different competitions.
Celtic, meanwhile, suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Hibernian in their latest Premiership outing, a result that adds to the pressure following their comprehensive loss in the first leg of this Europa League tie. The Scottish champions have experienced a mixed bag of results recently, including a dramatic 2-3 away win against Kilmarnock and a 2-1 home defeat to Livingston. The visitors have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Stuttgart in all competitions, suggesting their games against the Germans often produce plenty of action.
Stuttgart vs Celtic Head to Head
The most recent encounter between these two sides saw Stuttgart claim a convincing 4-1 victory over Celtic just last week in the first leg of this Europa League tie. This result followed a historical pattern that has seen the German side enjoy a slight edge in their limited meetings.
In their three previous clashes, Stuttgart have won two matches, while Celtic have secured one victory. Historically, the fixture has been goal-laden, with the German side seeing over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Celtic in all competitions. This suggests a propensity for open, attacking football when these two teams face each other.
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Stuttgart vs. Celtic Odds
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Stuttgart vs Celtic Probable Lineups
Stuttgart (4-2-3-1):
Nübel; Mittelstädt, Hendriks, Jeltsch, Vagnoman; Karazor, Andres; Leweling, Nartey, Bouanani; Undav
Celtic (4-3-3):
Schmeichel; Tierney, Trusty, Scales, Araujo; Bernardo, McGregor, Nygren; Tounekti, Cvancara, Maeda
Stuttgart vs Celtic Team News
Stuttgart's coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, faces some minor concerns for this crucial second leg. Angelo Stiller is a doubt after picking up a knock in their recent Bundesliga draw, while Jeff Chabot is suspended and will miss the match. Longer-term absentees include Justin Diehl, who remains unavailable due to injury. The German side will be keen to maintain their attacking prowess, with Deniz Undav expected to lead the line after his prolific form this year.
Celtic arrive in Germany with a more significant list of absentees, particularly impacting their defensive options. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Adam Montgomery, and Jota are all sidelined due to injury. This defensive depth issue will be a major headache for coach Martin O’Neill, especially given the three-goal deficit they need to overcome. Benjamin Nygren, the first-leg scorer, will be looked upon to provide an early spark as the Scottish side aims for an improbable comeback.
Stuttgart vs Celtic Match Facts
- Stuttgart have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Celtic in all competitions.
Prediction: Stuttgart 2-1 Celtic
Stuttgart return home with one foot firmly in the last 16 after their commanding 4-1 victory at Celtic Park. The Bundesliga side were clinical in Glasgow, and their attacking momentum has scarcely slowed since, as evidenced by their recent 3-3 draw with Heidenheim. The German side boasts a strong offensive character, with a high average rating of 6.73, excellent possession (58.27%), and a high shot count (18.56 per game). Their ability to create chances and their clinical finishing, especially through players like Deniz Undav, will be key.
Celtic, by contrast, travel to Germany facing an enormous task. Their defensive weaknesses, compounded by several key absences in the backline, will be severely tested by Stuttgart's dynamic attack. While the Scottish champions possess offensive strengths, including an ability to create chances and attack down the wings, their defensive vulnerabilities (such as defending against skillful players and aerial duels) are likely to be exploited. Celtic's need to push forward to chase the game will also leave them susceptible to Stuttgart's potent counter-attacks. Despite a potential surge of urgency from the visitors, the scale of the deficit, their poor away record in Germany (never having won a European game there), and Stuttgart’s current attacking form all point towards the hosts seeing this tie through. Seven of Stuttgart's last eight matches have cleared the 2.5-goal mark, and with Celtic needing to attack, another open encounter with goals seems highly probable.
Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals (+110) Check out the best odds on Caesars Sportsbook
Given the attacking nature of Stuttgart and Celtic's desperate need to score, an open game with multiple goals is highly anticipated. The fact that Stuttgart have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Celtic, combined with "seven of Stuttgart’s last eight matches clearing the 2.5-goal mark", strongly supports this betting angle. Furthermore, "Eight of Celtic’s last nine matches saw both teams score", indicating their games are rarely tight affairs at either end. Expect both sides to find the net, contributing to a high-scoring contest.
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