Celtic vs Stuttgart predictions and betting tips – Bhoys in knockout phase

Celtic are right back in the Scottish Premiership title race, but that is not their only focus for the remainder of the campaign. Martin O’Neill’s men are also targeting a run into the latter stages of the Europa League.

Stuttgart stand in their way in the knockout phase play-offs. Which way will Thursday’s game at Celtic Park go?

• Celtic to win – 2/1 with BoyleSports
• Both teams to score – 4/6 with 247Bet
• Benjamin Nygren to score any time – 19/10 with Sky Bet

Celtic vs Stuttgart odds

Find the latest Celtic vs Stuttgart betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Celtic vs Stuttgart predictions

Celtic have really put their fans through the emotional wringer this season.

From Brendan Rodgers’s explosive exit to Wilfried Nancy’s ill-fated tenure and two unlikely spells in the dugout for the septuagenarian Martin O’Neill, it has not been dull at Parkhead in 2025/26.

Even with the relative stability provided by club legend O’Neill, Celtic have often eschewed the easy way.

That has been the case twice over the last week. Many would have expected straightforward victories over Livingston and Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. Instead, Celtic needed goals in second-half stoppage time to get past both opponents.

The Hoops ultimately found a way through on both occasions, but O’Neill will hope for some more comfortable wins in the weeks ahead.

Celtic are now favourites to win the title. They trail Heart of Midlothian by three points and Rangers by one, but O’Neill’s charges have a game in hand on both sides.

There are no doubt plenty of twists and turns still to come, but right now Celtic have got themselves back into an excellent position after Nancy’s nightmare spell in the dugout.

Neither Hearts nor Rangers have any European commitments for the remainder of the campaign, potentially handing them an edge in the title fight.

Indeed, some Celtic supporters see the Europa League as an unwelcome distraction from the bread and butter of the Premiership, especially as the Hoops only just scraped into the knockout phase play-offs.

That has led to talk of Celtic potentially throwing the Europa League, but despite O’Neill’s somewhat equivocal take when asked about that prospect, there is minimal chance of that happening as things stand.

“Obviously it’s against my nature [to abandon a tournament],” O’Neill said at the weekend. “But if you want to be really honest about it, there’s some big, big teams still in that competition and it’s a long way from home as well.

“If you went through against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, you’re still talking about [going] into the last 16. That seems like miles away. If it was a bit closer, you know, then you could think about it. But just having said this, I wouldn’t want to give it up.”

Should they lose the first leg, Celtic may well end up resting some key men for the return fixture. Right now, though, we should expect them to go all-out for victory.

Celtic vs Stuttgart betting tips

Celtic take their first steps in the Europa League knockout phase against Stuttgart on Thursday.

Celtic can win first leg

Celtic may have finished a relatively lowly 21st in the league phase, but in O’Neill’s four games in charge they collected seven points.

Had they amassed points at that rate across all eight matches, Celtic could have finished as high as 14th – and they would have been just a point behind 11th-placed Stuttgart.

Celtic’s upcoming opponents are fourth in the Bundesliga, so this is a tricky test for the Scottish champions. The bookies have Stuttgart down as odds-on favourites to advance to the round of 16.

But as O’Neill himself referenced on Sunday, there is now a fantastic spirit within the Celtic camp. And Stuttgart do not travel well: they lost three out of four away games in the league phase.

In front of a raucous Parkhead crowd, the Hoops may well establish a first-leg advantage on Thursday.

Back Celtic to win at 2/1 with BoyleSports

Goals at both ends

Stuttgart failed to score in those three away defeats in the first part of this competition, yet they struck at least twice in each of their other five games.

They have been in positive form in front of goal in the Bundesliga of late, finding the back of the net in seven consecutive matches.

Celtic’s defence has been far from watertight in recent outings, with only one clean sheet in their last seven outings in all competitions.

With all that in mind, there is a good chance we will see goals at both ends at Celtic Park.

Select both teams to score at 4/6 with 247Bet

Nygren one to watch

On-loan right-back Julian Araujo was the Celtic hero on Sunday, as his effort in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time gave his team a 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock.

Benjamin Nygren’s equaliser in the 64th minute was just as important and he is the man we are backing in the anytime scorer market.

Nygren has scored 16 goals in all competitions this term, including three in eight Europa League games.

Whether he is used in central midfield or in a more advanced role, Nygren knows what it takes to unite ball and net.

Choose Benjamin Nygren to score any time at 19/10 with Sky Bet

Celtic vs Stuttgart predicted lineups

• Celtic expected lineup: Schmeichel; Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Adamu, Cvancara, Maeda.
• Stuttgart expected lineup: Nubel; Assignon, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Andres; Leweling, Undav, Fuhrich; Demirovic.

Where to watch Celtic vs Stuttgart

• Location: Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland.
• Date and time: Thursday 19th February, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 1.

More Europa League predictions

We have plenty more Europa League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.xpert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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