Listen to Sportsound coverage above
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2) - Visitors claim first win in Germany but go out on aggregate
McCowan neatly slots into bottom corner; Undav scores controverisal equaliser before VAR rules out
Get involved below
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
We might have mentioned that Celtic visit Rangers on Sunday a few times.
That's not the only big game this weekend, with Premiership leaders Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell hosting Dundee United.
Hearts could be seven points clear before the Old Firm rivals meet. Motherwell could be one point behind third-placed Celtic.
Thanks for your company tonight and make sure you join us over the weekend.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
A win in Germany. What a way to sign off if this is his last European game.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
A bit more from Martin O'Neill, who says: "There'll be twists and turns, we have to go to Ibrox which we know is going to be a very difficult game for us, then we have up to go to Aberdeen, then we have to go to Ibrox again.
"We've created this situation for ourselves by progressing in European football. At the end of it all, that's what you want to do.
"European football is what big clubs in Scotland should be aiming, not for the coefficient points to be dropping out of sight. It's ridiculous. This is what it's all about."
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Asked if he will miss European football if this is to be his last such experience, Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill replies: "Of course, I'll miss it until they are putting a brown lid on top of me. I'm in dreamland just to get the opportunity again."
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill tells TNT Sports: "The first leg got away from us and we gave away some soft goals, but tonight was a brilliant backs-to-the-wall performance.
"We still had chances in the game, and almost gave them a nervy few minutes for what I consider a very good team, a team capable of winning this competition.
"[Sinisalo] played brilliantly in the game, really well. That's the name all round the dressing room. He's got plenty of talent.
"Tonight, we made some changes. Some enforced, players stepped up to the plate but we didn't throw in two 16-year-olds... these boys have played in the team and have shown they're capable of winning games.
"It wouldn't be a headache... A selection choice. To go back tonight, it was terrific."
Image source, SNSFT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Celtic goalkeeperViljami Sinisalo, speaks to TNT Sports about Kasper Schmeichel and getting past the current number one: "I watched him when I was younger and he was one of the goalies I idolised when I grew up.
"He's been brilliant with me and we've got a great working relationship, always have done. I'm there to help him and he's there to help me.
"I do want to play, everyone does. That's what football is and how it should be. The more chances you have the better, and I'm glad I got my chance today. Whatever follows is not up to me.
"It's another game coming up. If the manager decides to put me in, great, I'm ready for it. That's not my decision. I can only go out there and play my best."
Image source, SNSFT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
I don't think Luke McCowan has been used enough. He's put himself in the picture after putting in a real shift.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
A little more from Luke McCowan, specifically talking about making more starts: "Regardless of whether you're playing or not, you've got to have the hunger to go and help your team.
"Celtic have been so amazing for the last few years because the consistency level is abnormally high, and now we expect that from ourselves.
"When I get given a chance, I've got to try and take it. I started well and I need to keep pushing to get myself in for the bigger games, and keep myself mentally right."
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan tells TNT Sports: "The captain [Callum McGregor] is always inspiring us with his words in the huddle. We knew we had to start quick and I just wish we could have pushed on, in the first half especially, to get a second one.
"Just that finale edge was what we were missing.
"It was just about doing ourselves proud. Even the last game we played, we didn't do that. We stepped into a game like this, on the biggest stage, and the message was to do yourselves and your family proud."
Image source, SNSFT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Stiliyan Petrov
Former Celtic midfielder on TNT Sports
Viljami Sinisalo knew he was under the microscope and he did everything perfectly. It's a big decision for Martin O'Neill now.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Sinisalo was a real positive out of this game. He had some very good saves and looked composed when he had the ball and read the game well.
It's a big decision for Martin O'Neill to make at the weekend. On that performance, I would be starting him. Give him a run in the team now.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
That was a first clean sheet in six games for Celtic.
Viljami Sinisalo was solid between the sticks, while Dane Murray and Marcelo Saracchi impressed in the back four.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
Lots and lots of positives. The players who started will be very proud of themselves. The work rate was exceptional.
You don't have to have all the possession to win the game. You've got to work hard, defend well, get a bit of luck and have a good goalkeeper.
They just couldn't get that second goal to get the squeeze on Stuttgart.
FT: Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Stiliyan Petrov
Former Celtic midfielder on TNT Sports
The team was really solid. You don't have to be pretty to win games.
A Europa League exit for Celtic, but plenty of positives for Martin O'Neill's side.
A first win for Celtic on German soil, seven days after a humbling at home.
Image source, SNSStuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Marcelo Saracchi looks out on his feet but summons the energy to make another important penalty box interception.
Celtic are fighting tooth and nail for this clean sheet.
Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Joe Hart
Former Celtic goalkeeper on TNT Sports
I honestly don't know.
He's having a difficult moment, but Kasper Schmeichel has lots of experience in big games.
At the same time, Sinisalo has done everything asked of him tonight.
Image source, SNSStuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Five minutes of stoppage time are signalled as Celtic break.
Sebastian Tounekti can't beat Alexander Nubel with this shot though and the goalkeeper recovers from a slight fumble before Kelechi Iheanacho can get to the ball.
Stuttgart 0-1 Celtic (4-2)
Viljami Sinisalo with another save, beating away a rising, angled strike from Chris Fuhrich.
That might be the Finn's best stop of the night.
Has he put down a marker to be considered for the Old Firm derby?
Luke McCowan's goal was the fastest in the Europa League since September 2016
At a glance
Celtic pick up rare away win in Europe but narrow margin not enough to overturn first-leg humbling
Luke McCowan scores after 28 seconds to give Celtic fast start but they fail find another route to goal
Hosts have ball in the net twice but both ruled out
Martin O'Neill makes eight changes ahead of Old Firm on Sunday, but captain Callum McGregor plays full 90 minutes
Celtic pulled off a shock but impressive victory against Stuttgart for their first win on German soil, but it was not enough to avoid dropping out of the Europa League knockout play-offs.
Luke McCowan scored after just 28 seconds to give the much-changed visitors a glimmer of hope following last week's 4-1 defeat.
The hosts did have the ball in the net twice, but both goals were ruled out for offside. The first was scored by Chris Fuhrich, the second by Deniz Undav.
Despite Stuttgart's second-half siege, Celtic were able to hold on for a morale-boosting win going into a pivotal Old Firm double header.
There were positives to take, though. It was Celtic's first win in Germany in 17 attempts, while Martin O'Neill was also able to rest plenty of key players ahead of the Old Firm at Ibrox on Sunday.
The clean sheet, kept by back-up goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo with Kasper Schmeichel rested, will offer confidence while up front, the attacking trio of Daizen Maeda, Junior Adamu and McCowan looked threatening.
Out of Europe - now Celtic face critical fortnight
Starts don't get much faster than the one Celtic made in Stuttgart, but for much of the game it seemed more likely that the German hosts would find a leveller and motor away.
By the 25th minute, McCowan's goal was the only shot Celtic had taken as Stuttgart had made 18 entries into the final third.
Yet by half-time, it was still 1-0 and Celtic's backline was holding firm.
The second half followed a similar rhythm. Five minutes in, and Celtic had only completed five passes. In the second half, they had just four touches in Stuttgart's box.
But such was the strength of Scots' rearguard, O'Neill may well have a headache over his Sunday selections.
Will it be Brentford loanee Ben Arthur or Dane Murray? The latter was impressive on the night and made one superb block that denied Undav from close range.
In goal, will it be under-fire Schmeichel or number two Sinisalo, who kept Celtic in front with numerous saves? Calls for a change between the sticks have been loud from the stands, and will only grow following the Finn's fine performance.
Up top, will the attacking trio who flourished on the counter - Maeda, McCowan and Adamu - get the nod?
On another night, Maeda might have made it 2-0 within five minutes, but he could not get a touch on Adamu's cross.
Either way, Celtic will be content with their work. A three-goal win was a distant dream and failing that, they did everything else asked of them.
Now the question is, can they do it on Sunday with league contention on the line? Can they show another performance full of grit and heart at Ibrox?
Only time will tell.
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill said: "Naturally I'm delighted with the effort and determination they put into the game. We got off to a really great start, and we felt if we didn't concede in the first 20 minutes and nicked a goal, we were still in the tie.
"We were playing a very good side, a side capable of winning the competition. I couldn't be more pleased with the team, their attitude and desire.
"Naturally, it's a different game [on Sunday at Rangers]. We don't have much time to get ready for it but we'll go again. We're staying overnight here, we'll travel back tomorrow. The result is in the lap of the gods but I genuinely think the players deserve an enormous amount of credit here."
Celtic travel to Ibrox to face Rangers in the Old Firm on Sunday lunch-time (12:00).
This is just the eighth game in major European competition history to see the winner in a 1-0 win scored in the first minute, with Celtic also the first side ever to score such a goal via a 1-0 European Cup semi-final win in April 1970 against Leeds.
Celtic have scored in the opening minute of eight major European matches, the most of any side in history.
Luke McCowan is the first Scotsman to score in the first minute of a major European game since Brian McClair for Manchester United against Montpellier in March 1991 in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Celtic's opening goal after 28 seconds was the earliest ever conceded by Stuttgart in a major European game.
Celtic's Callum McGregor made his 68th major European start for the club – just one behind the club record set by their 1967 European Cup winning captain Billy McNeill (69).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
Manager:Sebastian Hoeneß
Formation:4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager:Martin O'Neill
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
UEFA Europa League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Stuttgart have never lost a home major European match against a Scottish side (W4 D2), winning 3-2 against Celtic in February 2003 after coming from 2-0 down.
Celtic have never won an away European match in Germany in 16 attempts (D4 L12), though they did draw 1-1 with Bayern Munich in their most recent trip in February 2025 in a UEFA Champions League match.
Stuttgart have won each of their last four home major European matches – however, they are winless in their last seven on home soil in the knockout stages (D3 L4) since a 2-0 win over Domzale in the UEFA Cup in September 2005.
Celtic have won one of their last 17 away major European matches (D6 L10) while in the knockout stages they’re winless in 12 (D3 L9) since a 1-0 win at Boavista in April 2003 during Martin O’Neill’s first spell in charge.
In the first leg, Bilal El Khannouss (21y 285d) became the youngest Stuttgart player to score more than once in a game in major European competition since Mario Gomez against Rapid Bucuresti in the UEFA Cup in December 2005 (20y 157d).
