VfB Stuttgart has opened the door to the round of 16 of the Europa League very wide. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team deservedly won the play-off first leg at Celtic Glasgow on Thursday 4:1 (2:1) and worked out an excellent starting position for the second leg next Thursday (6.45 p.m.) in Stuttgart.
Double goalscorer Bilal El Khannouss (15th, 28th), Jamie Leweling (57th) and Tiago Tomás (90th + 3) led VfB to victory in the legendary Celtic Park, also known as “Paradise” by the fans. Benjamin Nygren (21st) scored the equalizer after a mistake in Stuttgart’s build-up game.
Because the superior VfB presented themselves callously in front of the goal, unlike last time, a narrow defeat in the second leg is enough to move into the round of 16. There it would definitely go to Portugal: FC Porto or Sporting Braga would be possible opponents.
VfB controlled the game almost at will in the first half. With their great ball security, which they had already distinguished in their runner-up season two years ago, the Stuttgart team repeatedly put the hosts to task – and then struck ice cold. Nothing changed when Celtic came out of the break improved.
