VfB Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic - Time for some Definitive Ratings

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The view from the Celtic end in Stuttgart. VfB Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic. Photo Conor Spence (The Celtic Star)

OVERALL – 8/10 – The game nobody wanted. And nobody wanted to watch. Except the travelling thousands who were magnificent in their support, and will be at every away game until the incompetent, petulant nepo-babies on the board understand the context and necessity of a full home support backing a side to glory at the sharp end of a season.

Kasper Schmeichel, Stevie Woods and Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic. Stuttgart v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Knockout Round Play Offs, Second Leg, Football, MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany – 26 Feb 2026Stuttgart MHP Arena Germany Photo James Marsh IMAGO Shutterstock

Aside from that frustrating intransigence, incomprehension, and incompetence at executive level, the team produced a marvellous faith-restoring performance in a proper mad frenzied Euro arena to bolster everyone’s confidence in their ability to get the job done when the mood takes them. Why that mindset and display were bereft of them last week is a bit of a mystery. This was more like the Celtic we know. And expect. Hopefully, quite possibly, this dreaded adventure back into German-taxi and Black Forest Gateau country after 23 years of faffing around across various European competitions, will prove to be an unlikely springboard for a proper Celtic title-surge.

Celtic support in Stuttgart Photo IMAGO / Jan Huebner

A game that spiked DFS’s couch sales turned into an uplifting and prideful evening of restored morale and renewed optimism. With a double Sunday looming of descent into a place of night from the first ages, from the earliest beginnings of the world, we no longer need fear a journey into that heart of darkness. In fact, we should embrace the chance to strike at the black heart and revel in the fascination of the abomination. We live as we dream – never walking alone.