Why VfB Stuttgart will advance against Celtic in the UEFA Europa League
VfB Stuttgart have their sights set on reaching the UEFA Europa League round of 16, but must first navigate a two-legged play-off tie against Celtic. We take a look at why Sebastian Hoeneß's charges can be confident of going through.
Stuttgart in sensational form
Stuttgart are among Germany's most in-form teams, winning six of nine games since the winter break. Including the club's final three games of 2025, they have won eight of their last 12, losing just twice.
This strong run has kept Stuttgart firmly in contention for UEFA Champions League qualification, as well as seeing Die Schwaben reach the Europa League knockout phase and DFB Cup semi-finals.
Watch: Stuttgart start 2026 in style
Firing on all cylinders
Stuttgart’s recent good form has come hand-in-hand with a superb attacking output. VfB have scored 19 goals across nine matches in 2026, with Deniz Undav, Ermedin Demirović, Jamie Leweling and Chris Führich all heavily involved.
Undav, in particular, has been on fire of late, scoring four and providing five assists in 2026.
Watch: Every Undav goal this season
Leweling, meanwhile, has three goals and one assist and is currently playing some of the best football of his career.
Stuttgart’s fluid attacking options could prove a real handful for Celtic, and with the likes of Angelo Stiller and Bilal El Khannouss feeding the frontline, Stuttgart have so many options when it comes to scoring goals.
Watch: Leweling's Stuttgart best bits
Hoeneß is at the wheel
Now approaching his three-year anniversary in charge at the MHP Arena, the 43-year-old has brought much-needed stability to VfB's performances. His players are used to his methods and trust them; as a result, Stuttgart operate i harmony more often that not.
Furthermore, Hoeneß gets results. A runners-up finish in the Bundesliga in 2024 and last year's DFB Cup triumph are remarkable achievements, while he has a 58 percent win rate across his 133 games in charge so far. That rises to close to 63 percent in the Europa League this term.
In short, Hoeneß tends to find a way more often than not.
Celtic’s European struggles
The last time Celtic made it through a knockout tie in a European competition proper was in 2004, when they reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup (the modern Europa League).
Moreover, the Bhoys generally have a poor record against German opposition, having won just five of 32 meetings, and they have never won an away game in Germany in 16 attempts.
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Undav’s majestic form
Entering 2026 where he left off in 2025, Stuttgart's hitman has established himself as one of the Bundesliga's most lethal finishers.