Full Time: Celtic 1-4 Stuttgart

Celtic welcomed Stuttgart back to Paradise for the first time in more than two decades, when incredibly Martin O’Neill was in the dugout in his first stint at the club.

The match got off to a slow start when dozens of supporters clubs and groups threw balls onto the pitch in protest against the current hierarchy and various issues with the running of the club. After a long delay, action finally got underway properly and Celtic’s wide men looked sharp on both sides.

A period of abysmal play followed a poor corner kick delivery . There were a number of failed clearances and scrappy touches, which culminated in Schmeichel playing a dreadful ball out from the back and Stuttgart took advantage by reclaiming possession and a low shot beat the Celtic goalkeeper. He should have done better.

That goal game with barely 15 minutes on the clock and did little to improve the atmosphere in the stadium, which was almost solely provided by the away fans again.

On 18 minutes Cvancara made the most of a half chance and tested the goalkeeper – positive signs could have been in the offing after all. Within two minutes of that effort, Celtic drew level. This time it was the turn of the Stuttgart defence to gift a goal as sloppy play at the back handed Nygren a one on one opportunity and the Swede coolly rounded the keeper to slot home.

By the 28th minute, amateur hour returned as an ongoing inability to defend balls into the box was demonstrated by the Hoops. A deflected cross looped eight yards from the Celtic goal and the defence left the smallest man on the pitch totally unmarked, with a free header to put the Germans back in front. It was shocking defending, which had been the story of the goals to this point and indeed of both teams in the first third of the match.

Play for the remainder of the half was even with no further clear cut chances.

The whistle to commence play for the second half was a sound that Celtic needed to improve to have any chance of staying in this tie… if the players needed any more noise to that effect having just left the dressing room with Martin O’Neill delivering a team talk.

Araujo took heed of that message and drove down the right with a fine run and inviting cross, but nobody attacked it with any vigour. It was then up to the Mexican international to fashion another chance and win his team a corner, but nothing came from it. Nevertheless, the signs were that the Hoops were improving.

It was a false dawn. By the hour mark Celtic were almost 4-1 down. The third for Stuttgart was another mistake by Kasper, who seems to be struggling more with each passing game. The fourth was a delicate chip over the Dane. However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal offside. Despite the reprieve, some sections of the stands began to empty.

There were fleeting moments for Celtic in reply. Lots of endeavour but the necessary quality at key moments was lacking. A fluke goal almost came Celtic’s way five minutes from time when Sarrachi sliced a cross which sailed inches over the bar, with the unsuspecting goalkeeper nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, at the other end another skewed cross almost resulted in a goal when a header from close range went the wrong side of the post.

In injury time, Stuttgart did get their fourth goal. Once more the defence was wide open and the away side took full advantage.

The full time whistle sounded to compound Celtic’s misery – an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at home against a reasonable opponent but this is far from Champions League or elite level. To fall to such a hammering at home in the Europa League is humiliating for a side with such a history of glorious European nights in Paradise.