Stuttgart vs Celtic: Europa League — Celtic win in Germany but go out on aggregate after VAR drama

The latest Europa League knockout tie ended in a 1-0 victory for Celtic in Germany, but they were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate after a contentious VAR intervention. The result settled the tie despite a late goal and produced sweeping reactions from former players and the Celtic interim manager.

Europa League match report: scoreline, goals and VAR

Full time readout: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2 aggregate). Celtic recorded their first win in Germany when McCowan neatly slotted into the bottom corner to produce the match-winning goal, but the aggregate score favoured Stuttgart after the first-leg result. Deniz Undav had a goal that initially looked to restore parity in the tie, but that equaliser was ruled out after a VAR review.

Key moments and individual performances

The match hinged on a handful of decisive moments. McCowan's finish proved decisive for the night, while the disallowed effort from Undav — described in coverage as controversial before the review — removed a potential momentum shift for Stuttgart. Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo was singled out for praise after his performance, and he reflected on the influence of a prominent goalkeeper he admired while growing up.

Manager and former-player reactions

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner observed that a win in Germany would be a fitting way to sign off if this was the interim manager's last European match. Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill gave an extended assessment: he said the first leg had slipped away because of soft goals, praised the second-leg backs-to-the-wall display, and noted that the team still created chances and made life nervy for a strong Stuttgart side capable of winning the competition.

O'Neill also highlighted the performance of Sinisalo, calling him brilliant and noting his talent. He explained that some changes made for the match were enforced by circumstances, that players stepped up, and that the youngsters selected were not inexperienced teenagers but players who had shown they could win games. On whether he would miss European football should this be his final run, he said he would miss it profoundly and described the opportunity as a dream.

Form lines and context going into the tie

Earlier in the knockout phase, Stuttgart had taken care of Celtic with a 4-1 win in the first leg. Stuttgart had won two of the last three matchups between the clubs. Deniz Undav led Stuttgart in scoring with 13 goals, while Ermedin Demirovic was the club's second-top scorer with seven.

Celtic entered the match in a run of three straight defeats that followed a sequence of three consecutive wins to start the month. Benjamin Nygren was listed as leading both clubs with 14 goals scored in the recent scoring charts referenced in match previews.

Kickoff times, venue and wider Europa League schedule

The second-leg tie took place at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, with a local kickoff time of 9 p. m. on Thursday, February 26. That local start translated to 12: 45 p. m. ET for the U. S. audience.

• Ferencvaros vs Ludogorets Razgrad — 12: 45 p. m. ET
• Red Star Belgrade vs Lille — 12: 45 p. m. ET
• VfB Stuttgart vs Celtic — 12: 45 p. m. ET
• Viktoria Plzen vs Panathinaikos — 12: 45 p. m. ET
• Celta Vigo vs PAOK Salonika — 3: 00 p. m. ET
• Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahce — 3: 00 p. m. ET

For viewers in the United States, Europa League and Champions League fixtures are available on a subscription streaming service and selected for cable or channel broadcast; some broadcast selections are also accessible through streaming platforms that offer trials. Match availability and platform lineups are subject to change.

What this means domestically and what's next

The postmatch coverage noted domestic stakes: Celtic are due to visit Rangers on Sunday. The weekend slate also features Premiership leaders Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell hosting Dundee United. If results go certain ways, Hearts could be seven points clear before the Old Firm rivals meet, while Motherwell could move to within one point of third-placed Celtic. The match coverage closed by thanking the audience for their company and urging viewers to follow weekend coverage for these domestic developments.

Recent updates indicate the match outcome and reactions as described; details such as selection choices and injury status beyond what was discussed in the postmatch comments are unclear in the provided context.