It’s simply as nicely Martin O’Neill wished no celebration of his 1,000th recreation in skilled administration. Stuttgart used the event of their go to to Glasgow to display the chasm between themselves and Celtic. Males in opposition to Bhoys.
Subsequent week’s return leg on this Europa League playoff feels a formality. O’Neill’s choice in Germany shall be intriguing, given lingering battles on the home entrance. Celtic’s on area regression is probably the most stark of issues, given a yr in the past they had been horrifying Bayern Munich within the Champions League.
Stuttgart might have greater fish to fry than this competitors. Nonetheless, at Celtic Park their strategy was spectacular. Stuttgart might and will have scored extra. They are going to be quietly content material of a spot within the final 16 being safe.
The night had opened in unedifying model for Celtic. Solely seconds after kick-off, supporters threw tennis balls on the pitch as a method of expressing dissatisfaction with the membership’s board of administrators.
The protest felt half-hearted but Uefa are more likely to take a dim view of a delay in play which lasted for 3 minutes. One in every of umpteen fascinating facets of this strangest of Celtic campaigns entails the break up between supporter base and boardroom. It is a fractured membership, held collectively the place it presumably may be by a 73-year-old supervisor.
O’Neill had executed nothing to sugarcoat the dimensions of Celtic’s process, branding the Stuttgart video games the hardest of the season for his group. This was hardly a novel level; the fourth-placed facet within the Bundesliga had been dealing with one who squeezed previous Dundee, Livingston and Kilmarnock in latest matches. Ought to they be sufficiently motivated, Stuttgart ought to rank among the many Europa League favourites.
With this in thoughts, the Germans barely wanted the favours supplied by Kasper Schmeichel. Celtic’s goalkeeping place has been an issue for months, with Schmeichel’s common blundering solely emphasising why he ought to have been changed final summer season.
Within the Dane’s newest ragged episode, he floated a kick-out into Stuttgart possession earlier than diving over what was a tame shot from Bilal El Khannouss. Deniz Undav is due credit score for a cute flick into El Khannouss’ path however the purpose was the doing of Schmeichel. O’Neill has a critical name to make over whether or not to retain religion in his custodian. This feels a depressing approach for the 39-year-old’s profession to wind down.
Stuttgart determined to get in on the act of defensive generosity because the hosts equalised. Harmful play between the goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and Atakan Karazor resulted within the latter taking a poor contact on his 18-yard line. Benjamin Nygren stole in, rounding Nübel earlier than slotting residence. Parity was the least Celtic deserved for his or her play within the recreation’s opening quarter.
Nygren’s intervention stung Stuttgart into motion. El Khannouss was the scorer because the guests edged in entrance for a second time. Celtic had been once more slack by leaving the ahead in splendid isolation as he headed Angelo Stiller’s deflected cross. Schmeichel was overwhelmed at his close to put up. Stuttgart completed the primary interval firmly within the ascendancy with out troubling Schmeichel.
Celtic had proven components of second-half promise previous to the purpose which certainly settled the tie in Stuttgart’s favour. Schmeichel was once more culpable, having misinterpret a 20-yard shot from Jamie Leweling which was fierce however not significantly nicely positioned. The anger of the Celtic help in the direction of Schmeichel was now obvious, with the goalkeeper booed throughout subsequent touches.
Stuttgart had been solely denied a speedy fourth by the interventions of the video assistant referee resulting from offside within the buildup to the superb Ermedin Demirovic flicking over the advancing Schmeichel.
Nübel saved excellently from Nygren as Celtic sought to claw their approach again into proceedings. To their credit score, within the face of such superior opposition, Celtic had been refusing to wilt. The issue was hope stuffed the air when Celtic attacked versus expectancy when Stuttgart did likewise.
Towards the backdrop of a subdued environment – even Schmeichel was spared abuse by the eightieth minute – Stuttgart performed a pretty model of preserve ball. A raft of substitutions impacted the move of the sport, with Demirovic’s exit of solace to O’Neill. Tiago Tomás drilled in a low shot which Celtic’s goalkeeper saved to ironic cheers.
Nikolas Nartey headed broad of the Celtic purpose. Schmeichel and Celtic had suffered sufficient. O’Neill should hope Stuttgart are of equally forgiving thoughts in his recreation quantity 1002. If not, the mixture consequence might lurch in the direction of the embarrassing for a membership who’ve supposed aspirations of constructing headway on this very area.
The substitute Tomás added a fourth purpose in stoppage time to deepen the gloom.
Thanks for studying! Be part of our group at Spectator Daily
