Celtic FC were soundly beaten 4-1 at home by VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off on February 20, 2026. The German side delivered a devastating away performance to take a massive step towards the next round. Stuttgart were ruthless from the start, scoring twice in the opening half-hour to stun the Celtic Park crowd. Celtic pulled a goal back before halftime to offer a glimmer of hope. However, any comeback hopes were extinguished in the second half as Stuttgart scored two more excellent team goals to put the tie virtually out of reach. The match result is a severe disappointment for Celtic and their supporters, leaving them with a monumental task in Germany. For VfB Stuttgart, it was a near-perfect European night, showcasing their attacking quality and tactical discipline.