Martin O'Neill is aiming to mastermind another big European victory for Celtic, though he acknowledged his team are facing an "exceptionally difficult" opponent in Stuttgart. 

Celtic host the Bundesliga side on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League play-off, with O'Neill's side finishing the 36-team league phase in 21st. 

Stuttgart, who are led by Sebastian Hoeness, ended the league phase in 11th, and these two teams have history on the European stage. 

Celtic and Stuttgart have faced off twice before in major European competition, with the Scottish side winning 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16 of the 2002-03 UEFA Cup under O'Neill (3-1 home, 2-3 away).

The Bhoys come into the game fresh from taking all three points in a dramatic late win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership, with Julian Araujo netting in the 97th minute.

O'Neil, however, was keen to temper Celtic's expectations for the knockout stages, while also highlighting the strength of the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side. 

"This game will be exceptionally difficult for us. The Bundesliga is very strong – they're competitive, they're strong, they're agile and their fitness regimes are big," O'Neill said.

"We've done it [reached the knockout phase], even if it is only for another two games [after all]. 

"I don't want to lose that [spirit] there. Celtic, as you well know, and Rangers are really built on big European nights."

When advancing to the latter stages of a major European tournament, the Bhoys have struggled, particularly at Celtic Park. 

Celtic have won just one of their last 10 home games in the knockout rounds of major European competition (D3 L6), losing each of their last four in succession whilst conceding 2+ goals in each.

However, they come up against a Stuttgart team who are competing in their first major European knockout round tie since losing 5-1 on aggregate to Lazio in the last 16 of the Europa League in 2012-13.

Stuttgart have won just one of their last 11 knockout matches (D3 L7), though after losing each of their first five away European matches to Scottish opponents between 1964 and 2007, they won their last trip to Scotland 2-0 against Rangers in the Champions League group stage in November 2009.

Since O'Neill returned to the club for his second stint at the helm this season, Celtic have won eight of his 10 games in charge across all competitions. 

But during his first spell in 2025-26, O'Neill recalled the difficulty of Celtic's 3-1 defeat away to Midtjylland, but he was quick to highlight the importance of their triumph over Feyenoord and draw with Bologna. 

"My first European game [back] at Celtic was Midtjylland, and they absolutely mauled us," O'Neill said.

"But then we go to Feyenoord and get a great result and play really, really well, and then, we fight with Bologna – ten men for 60-odd minutes of the game – and I think, well, you know, I don't want to throw those performances and not try to qualify."