Comfortable first-leg victory

Match summary

Sebastian Hoeneß’s side produced a commanding performance from the off at Celtic Park, had the better of the play and consequently took the lead in the 15th minute. Deniz Undav flicked the ball on to Bilal El Khannouss on the edge of the box, and the 21-year-old found the net with a low shot.

Celtic capitalise on mistake

Stuttgart remained the dominant side after that but then made a fatal defensive error in the 21st minute. Alexander Nübel played a risky pass to Atakan Karazor, who gave away possession under pressure on the edge of his own area. Benjamin Nygren pounced on it to net the equaliser.

El Khannouss restores lead

VfB gave the perfect response. With 28 minutes on the clock, Angelo Stiller crossed into the box to the unmarked El Khannouss, who made it 2-1 with a header into the right corner from six metres, giving VfB a deserved lead at the half-time break.

Leweling extends

Celtic came out on the front foot at the start of the second half, but it was Stuttgart who got the next important goal to make it 3-1 courtesy of a long-distance strike from Jamie Leweling in the 57th minute. At the other end, Nübel saved well from Nygren’s long-range effort on 65 minutes.

Tomas makes it 4-1

The hosts kept pushing to improve the scoreline, but Hoeneß’s men held firm and scored a fourth goal in the third minute of stoppage time through substitute Tiago Tomas. It leaves VfB in a perfect position going into the second leg in Stuttgart on Thursday 26 February. 

Goals

15th minute: Finn Jeltsch intercepts a kick from Kasper Schmeichel and the ball finds its way to Undav, who passes to El Khannouss. The Moroccan shoots immediately from 15 metres and scores the opening goal.

21st minute: From Nübel’s pass, Karazor gives the ball away to Nygren just outside his own box. The Swede takes it around Nübel and slots in the equaliser.

28th minute: From Stiller’s cross, El Khannouss is free six metres from goal and takes advantage with a header into the right corner to make it 2-1.

57th minute: Leweling has a go from 18 metres and the ball slips under Schmeichel into the net.

93rd minute: Nikolas Nartey’s pass into the penalty area finds Tomas, who lifts the ball into the far corner to make it a final score of 4-1.