VfB Stuttgart clearly won the first leg of the Europa League playoffs against Celtic Glasgow. The match winner was Bilal El Khannouss with a brace.
With his goal in the 15th minute of the game, Bilal El Khannouss gave VfB Stuttgart the lead. Just six minutes later, Benjamin Nygren took advantage of a mistake in the Stuttgart defense to equalize (21st minute). El Khannouss again made the score 2-1 in the 27th minute. Jamie Leweling (57th) scored to make it 3-1. In stoppage time, substitute Tiago Tomas made the final score 4-1 (90+3).
The game started with a short break. Immediately after kick-off, Celtic fans caused a four-minute interruption by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch. According to SWR information, the protest was about the exclusion of some ultras by Celtic Glasgow. The reason for this was a violent incident involving stewards and the police last fall. However, the guests from Stuttgart were unimpressed by the interruption and soon gained control at Celtic Park. Nevertheless, it took 15 minutes until the first shot on goal of the game – but it found its way straight into the goal. A remarkable backheel pass from Deniz Undav into the path of Bilal El Khannouss was converted with a low shot from around 14 meters to the right of the goal – 1-0 for VfB.
A mistake in the build-up game leads to an equalizer
Only a little later, however, the Swabians embarrassed themselves. After a risky pass from VfB keeper Alexander Nübel to Atakan Karazor, he passed the ball with too much force into Angelo Stiller’s legs. The rebound landed directly in the path of Benjamin Nygren, who went around a free-standing Nübel and fired in from a few meters to make it 1-1.
However, the draw only lasted for a short time. Stuttgart continued to play boldly forward and restored their old lead in the 28th minute. A deflected cross from Stiller landed as an arc on the head of El Khannouss, who nodded in from close range to make it 2-1. With the renewed lead behind them, the visitors controlled the game and left Celtic little room for dangerous actions. The game went into half-time 2-1.
Celtic initially better, Stuttgart scores
At the beginning of the second half, the home team from Glasgow tried to control the game, VfB initially managed the lead and often gave the ball to the Bhoys. Nevertheless, it was the Stuttgart team who celebrated again. After a throw-in, the ball reached Leweling via El Khannouss and Demirovic, who simply shot from 20 meters – 3-1 (57th). Bitter for Celtic – goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel could have fended off the ball, but missed the ball when defending with his fist. Just a few minutes later the game seemed to have been decided, but Ermedin Demirovic’s goal was just offside (60′).
As a result, Celtic Glasgow found their way into the game better and better. The Scots did not give in and pushed for the next goal, but without really taking decisive action. VfB, on the other hand, tried to avoid risks and relied on pinpricks. Jamie Leweling was denied by Schmeichel in the 80th minute.
Tiago puts the lid on it
Even in the final minutes, the Scots didn’t manage to get close again. Instead, VfB scored. Substitute Nikolas Nartey sent Tiago Tomas, who was also substitute, into the Glasgow penalty area with a through ball. The attacker took advantage of his chance and scored impressively to make the final score 4-1. Things couldn’t have gone better for Stuttgart.
Thanks to the 4-1 win, VfB Stuttgart is now in a comfortable position for the second leg on February 26th. Then Stuttgart welcomes Celtic Glasgow at home in their home stadium. SWR will broadcast the game live in an audio stream on swr.de/sport.
