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Stuttgart's Europa League edge tested by Chabot suspension ahead of Celtic showdown

A dominant away win puts Stuttgart on the brink—but can their reworked defense hold off Celtic's desperate charge? Hoeneß's choices will decide their fate.

,   and  ASMedia
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The image shows a group of men standing next to each other on a soccer field. They are wearing green t-shirts and some are in a squat position. There is a ball on the ground in front of them. On the right side of the image, there is a goal post. In the background, there are trees, buildings, poles, vehicles, and the sky. At the bottom left corner of the picture, it is written that reads "Bundesliga 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40-41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-50-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72.

Stuttgart's Stiller fit for Celtic - Coach Hoeneß warns - Stuttgart's Europa League edge tested by Chabot suspension ahead of Celtic showdown

VfB Stuttgart enters the second leg of their Europa League clash with Celtic Glasgow in a strong position. A 4-1 away victory in the first leg gives them a clear advantage, but coach outlet Sebastian Hoeneß remains cautious. The absence of suspended defender Jeff Chabot adds uncertainty to their defensive setup for the upcoming match.

Stuttgart's campaign in the 2025/26 Europa League has been built on a solid defence. Young Finn Jeltsch and the experienced Chabot formed a reliable partnership in the first leg, supported by goalkeeper Alexander Nübel. This defensive strength helped secure a dominant 4-1 win in Glasgow, putting the German side firmly in control of the tie.

Midfielder Angelo Stiller will be available for the second leg after avoiding a serious knee injury. His presence strengthens the squad, but the suspension of Chabot forces Hoeneß to reconsider his leg muscles. Possible replacements include Ramon Hendriks, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Luca Jaquez, and Ameen al-Dakhil, though the coach has yet to confirm his choice.

Even with a two-goal loss at home, Stuttgart would still progress to the quarter-finals. There, they would face either FC Porto or Sporting Braga. However, Hoeneß has warned against complacency, stressing that Celtic will push hard for an upset.

Stuttgart's defensive reshuffle will be key to maintaining their lead in the second leg. A win or a narrow defeat would send them into the last eight, where a tougher challenge awaits. The team's focus remains on securing their place in the next round without underestimating Celtic's threat.

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