Stuttgart vs Celtic Prediction

Stuttgart vs Celtic prediction: goals, control, and a long night

The Stuttgart vs Celtic prediction for February 26, 2026 (17:45 GMT) starts with the obvious storyline: Stuttgart arrive at the MHPArena with a 4-1 first-leg lead from Celtic Park, and Celtic need the kind of miracle that usually gets saved for club anniversaries and late-night documentaries.

With Stuttgart sitting 4th in the Bundesliga and scoring freely in 2026 (26 goals in 11 matches), Sebastian Hoeneß has every reason to keep his side sharp. The message has been simple: don’t get romantic, get ruthless. Celtic, meanwhile, have to “go for it,” as Martin O’Neill put it after reaching his 1,000th match in management during the first leg. That’s a lot of games, and he’ll still tell you: you can’t chase a three-goal deficit by being polite.

How the second leg could be played

Expect a match with two different moods. Stuttgart can afford patience, while Celtic can’t. That usually creates space, and space is basically Stuttgart’s favorite food right now.

• Stuttgart approach: proactive structure, quick transitions, and a willingness to let Celtic press before snapping forward. At home, they can keep the ball and still look dangerous when they go direct.
• Celtic approach: a high-pressing 4-3-3 is likely, hunting an early goal to make the tie feel alive again. The risk is obvious: press too high, lose one duel, and Stuttgart are running at your back line.

Team news, key men, and the human side

Stuttgart’s big first-leg headline was Bilal El Khannouss, who hit two goals and looked like the game was moving in slow motion for him. Deniz Undav pulled strings with assists in Glasgow, and with Ermedin Demirović and Jamie Leweling also in form, Stuttgart have threats from multiple angles.

Hoeneß may be without Dan-Axel Zagadou and Lazar Jovanović, while Nikolas Nartey is close to returning. Jeremy Arévalo is ineligible due to squad list rules.

Celtic’s list is more painful. Arne Engels is out (thigh), and they’re also missing Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, and Alistair Johnston. Benjamin Nygren was the bright spot in the first leg with Celtic’s equalizer, and Callum McGregor remains the midfield heartbeat—he even had to defend Kasper Schmeichel publicly after a rough night and boos from his own fans. Add the recent fan protests (yes, the tennis balls) and the mood around the club has felt… complicated.

Head to head note worth remembering

This is Stuttgart’s first European knockout tie in 13 years, and Celtic fans will happily remind everyone that the last notable knockout meeting (2002/03 UEFA Cup) went Celtic’s way en route to Seville. History is nice, but the scoreboard is louder.

Stuttgart vs Celtic prediction: NerdyTips picks and betting odds

Now to the numbers that drive sports betting. The 1x2 betting odds are clear: Home win 1.4, Draw 5.6, Away win 7.5. With Stuttgart’s squad value at €341.40m versus Celtic’s €143.00m, the market expects control, quality, and depth to matter over 90 minutes.

• Most likely 1x2 outcome: Home win (1) with confidence 8.2 and odds 1.4
• Top value tip (NerdyTips AI): Over 2.5 goals, trust rating 10.0/10, odds 1.4
• Correct score lean: 3:1
• Half-time call: 1:0

The over 2.5 goals angle fits the game script. Celtic must chase, Stuttgart love transitions, and a second-leg tie with a big aggregate gap often turns into an open contest once the first goal lands. Our Stuttgart vs Celtic prediction also lines up with the projected match stats: 68% Stuttgart possession to 32% for Celtic, shots at 15-8, and shots on target at 5.6. Even corners (4-3) point to steady Stuttgart pressure rather than chaos-ball.

Discipline looks manageable (1 yellow for Stuttgart, 2 for Celtic), but if Celtic are still chasing in the final half-hour, tactical fouls tend to appear like clockwork.

Why the goals bet looks so clean

We’ve seen both teams punch above expectations away from home: Stuttgart’s 0-0 at Leverkusen in 2024 (as big underdogs) showed they can suffer smartly, and Celtic’s 2-2 at Bologna in January 2026 showed they can score even when the odds say “good luck.” Put that together with Celtic’s need to gamble and Stuttgart’s finishing form, and over 2.5 feels like the sensible bet in this round of sports betting.

Final thought for anyone checking betting odds: if Stuttgart score first, the tie might be settled—but the match could still stay fun, and that’s exactly why the goals market stands out.