Vfb Stuttgart Vs Celtic: Celtic win in Germany but exit Europa League 4-2 on aggregate
The match vfb stuttgart vs celtic ended 1-0 in Stuttgart, a first win for the visitors in Germany that nevertheless left them eliminated 4-2 on aggregate from the Europa League. The result produced a bittersweet, historic-seeming victory and immediate focus on a Sunday Old Firm trip to Rangers.
Vfb Stuttgart Vs Celtic final score and aggregate
Full time read: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2 on aggregate). The visitors claimed their first win in Germany but were eliminated on aggregate, ending their Europa League campaign despite the single-match victory.
McCowan finish and Undav goal ruled out by VAR
Jamie McCowan neatly slotted into the bottom corner to give Celtic the 1-0 win in Stuttgart. Earlier in the tie, Undav scored what was described as a controversial equaliser, but that effort was ruled out by VAR.
Podcast reaction: James McFadden and Pat Bonner assess the exit
A Scottish football podcast offered post-match reaction to Celtic's bittersweet win in Stuttgart. James McFadden and Pat Bonner assessed how the Europa League campaign ended, with Pat Bonner, the former Celtic goalkeeper, saying: "A win in Germany. What a way to sign off if this is his last European game. " The podcast framed the result as a historic win in Germany even as it confirmed the team's exit from the competition.
Martin O'Neill reflects on fixtures, European football and the performance
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill warned of a congested run of fixtures, saying: "There'll be twists and turns, we have to go to Ibrox which we know is going to be a very difficult game for us, then we have up to go to Aberdeen, then we have to go to Ibrox again. " He added that the club had "created this situation for ourselves by progressing in European football" and argued that "European football is what big clubs in Scotland should be aiming".
Asked about the personal significance of the night, O'Neill replied: "Of course, I'll miss it until they are putting a brown lid on top of me. I'm in dreamland just to get the opportunity again. " On the match performance he said the first leg "got away from us" with some soft goals conceded, but called the Stuttgart game "a brilliant backs-to-the-wall performance, " noting that Celtic still had chances and had almost made the visitors nervous. He praised the goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and said that some enforced changes saw players step up rather than the club relying on very young debutants, adding that selection choices were not a headache and that to go back tonight "it was terrific. "
Viljami Sinisalo on Kasper Schmeichel and upcoming fixtures
Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo spoke about watching Kasper Schmeichel when he was younger, saying: "I watched him when I was younger and he was one of the goalies I idolised when I grew up. " The comments came alongside talk of the immediate domestic schedule, with a reminder that Celtic will visit Rangers on Sunday for the Old Firm clash.
Wider Scottish weekend context: Premiership fixtures and table implications
The coverage noted other big domestic fixtures coming up: Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell hosting Dundee United. It was pointed out that Hearts could be seven points clear before the Old Firm rivals meet and that Motherwell could be one point behind third-placed Celtic, framing the European exit against an active domestic title race.
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