“Stuttgart has come with a clear plan to score as many goals as possible until the final whistle,” stated UEFA technical observer David James after Stuttgart took a 4-1 advantage in the UEFA Europa League direct elimination playoffs against Celtic.
Sebastian Hoeness’ team left Celtic Park with a three-goal advantage, rewarding this bold strategy of taking control in an away match marked by phases of clinical offensive intensity.
This analysis highlights the efficiency of the visitors’ approach and Celtic’s tactical response led by Martin O’Neill in his 1,000th match as head coach.
Stuttgart’s System to Overwhelm Celtic’s Defense
Starting with Stuttgart’s initial intentions, James noted the advantage created by the German team deploying a 3-2-2-3 system in possession against Celtic’s 4-4-2. “It was not so much about positions, but rather functions,” explained James. “The four players in Stuttgart’s ‘box-to-box’ midfield gave them an extra man at certain times, creating small pockets of possession to allow a free man to receive the ball.”
The first video illustrates the impact of this possession structure. The first two clips show how the extra man in midfield allows Stuttgart to create numerical advantages leading to crossing opportunities. The third clip shows cleverly synchronized movement from the right wingback to create a 4v3 situation higher up the field. A long ball from the goalkeeper turns into a threatening attack.
The final clip demonstrates three clear attributes displayed by Stuttgart players, according to James: collective counter-pressing, movement to create space for crosses, and defensive balance to maintain attacks. This action occurred after Benjamin Nygren (Celtic) equalized following an opening goal from Bilal El Khannouss, showcasing Stuttgart’s ability to seek space and exploit rare moments of imbalance with exquisite finishes.
Celtic’s Push to Get Back in the Game
“Celtic started the second half much better,” said James. “They showed a greater desire to press high, whereas in the first half, they often opted for a midfield block. Left-back Kieran Tierney pushed higher, in particular. They gained much better control of the ball in midfield and managed to get behind Stuttgart’s defensive line more frequently.”
In the second video, we see right-back Julián Araujo surging from his own half into the box as Celtic pushed for an equalizer. The second and third clips show increased urgency after substitutions made in response to the 3-1 scoreline.
“The substitutes strengthened Celtic’s approach,” clarified James. “In the first half, the build-up involved multiple passes back, leading to balls in midfield, often cleared and resulting in a lost long ball. When substitutes came on, they were more direct and individualistic towards goal.”
The third clip shows Hyunjun Yang dribbling into the penalty area in the 68th minute.
Stuttgart’s Desire to Maximize Their Advantage
The additional urgency from Celtic after the break changed the possession dynamics. While Stuttgart had 54% possession in the first half, Celtic dominated with 60% after the break. However, Stuttgart’s “desire to score” never wavered, according to James. They simply chose their moments to attack with clinical conviction, resulting in four goals from just five shots on target, with an xG of 1.88.
The final video demonstrates Stuttgart’s determination, particularly in transition moments, to relieve pressure and continue attacking the box in numbers. The first clip shows Jamie Leweling’s crucial third goal after a Celtic throw-in. “These moments seemed rehearsed,” explained James in the tactical analysis of the match.
The second clip shows another instance of a turnover from a Celtic throw-in.
Finally, the third clip shows Stuttgart’s fourth goal, a quick and incisive sequence between two substitutes, Nikolas Nartey and Tiago Tomás. James praised Hoeness’ choices. “The coach knew why he was bringing these players in,” stated James.
“You have a hungry player, Nikolas Nartey, who wants to take on his man rather than shift wide. He turns 180 degrees with the ball to face the game. Then another hungry player, Tiago Tomás, who has always looked to play in behind since coming on. For this goal, Tomás was brilliant. He wins the first header, sees the play unfold, identifies the space, and surges between the full-back and center-back. It’s a magnificent control and an excellent finish under pressure.”
The Coach’s Eye
As Kris Van Der Haegen, UEFA’s head of coach education, noted, “every coach wants their team to play their own style of football,” but success requires preparing players for “realistic scenarios to navigate effectively through structured and unstructured moments.”
Structure or Chaos
For Van Der Haegen, “adopting a structured practice involving game patterns helps coaches build a game model… It helps provide more control to create the images they want to see.”
Stuttgart achieved this in the first half at Celtic Park, a performance acknowledged by Sebastian Hoeness post-match. “We played very controlled for long periods,” he stated. “We kept playing forward while maintaining necessary control over the match.” However, as Van Der Haegen highlighted, the “unstructured moments” are where matches are truly won, as he emphasized, “Non-structured moments like transitions are harder to prepare for, and coaches must create environments where players identify problems and find solutions.”
Match Management in Context
James highlighted Hoeness’ “superb match management section,” lauding the planning for the context of a big game. “It’s a first-leg match at Celtic Park, which could have been hostile,” James explained. “But they managed to keep the match as calm as possible in the first 15-20 minutes and scored the goal to put pressure on Celtic.”
By “regularly exposing players to realistic scenarios,” as Van Der Haegen advocates, “players can effectively respond to the challenges they face.” The result was the clinical efficiency described by Hoeness at the final whistle: “We were efficient,” he declared. “We made the most of our chances.”
David James is a former English international goalkeeper, with club career stints at Liverpool, Portsmouth, Manchester City, and West Ham United. He represented Liverpool and Portsmouth in this competition.
