Celtic prepare for crucial Europa League clash against in-form Stuttgart

Celtic shift their focus to European action this week as they host VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout round playoffs at Celtic Park. 

The match kicks off at 8pm on Thursday, with the Scottish champions carrying the hopes of the nation as the sole remaining Scottish club in continental competition this season.

Fresh from a thrilling domestic comeback, Martin O’Neill’s side narrowed the gap to Premiership leaders Hearts to just three points courtesy of Julian Araujo’s dramatic 97th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock at the weekend. 

That late drama showcased the fighting spirit O’Neill has instilled since his return, evoking memories of his successful earlier tenure.

Now, the Hoops aim to harness that momentum under the famous Parkhead floodlights against a Stuttgart team enjoying strong form.

The Bundesliga visitors sit fourth in their domestic table and arrive buoyed by a morale-boosting 3-1 home win over Köln, their fifth victory in the last six matches across all competitions. 

Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß will be keen to secure a positive result in Glasgow to take advantage in the second leg at the MHP Arena next week.

Celtic welcome back key reinforcement Julian Araujo, one of three players recently added to their Europa League squad. 

The right-back, who netted the stoppage-time heroics against Kilmarnock, is fully eligible for Thursday’s encounter.

However, the home side faces challenges with absences. Defender Luca Jaquez has been sidelined by illness in recent weeks but could return for this high-stakes fixture. 

Midfielder Arne Engels, meanwhile, is ruled out after picking up a thigh injury during the previous league outing against Livingston.

This two-legged tie represents a golden opportunity for Celtic to reach the Europa League round of 16 for the first time in over a decade.

With a passionate home crowd expected to create an electric atmosphere, O’Neill’s men will look to strike an early blow against their confident German opponents and keep their European dream alive.