UEFA Europa League League Stage - 1
VfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 FT Celta Vigo
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
25' ↓ F. Jeltsch ↑L. Jaquez
HT
51' B. Bouanani (A. Nubel)
↓ F. Jutgla ↑B. Iglesias 52'
↓ P. Duran ↑B. Zaragoza 61'
↓ J. El Abdellaoui ↑J. Rueda 61'
↓ I. Aspas ↑W. Swedberg 61'
Williot Swedberg 63'
68' B. El Khannouss (A. Stiller)
70' ↓ B. El Khannouss ↑T. Tomas
70' ↓ C. Andres ↑A. Karazor
80' ↓ J. Leweling ↑J. Vagnoman
80' ↓ B. Bouanani ↑C. Fuhrich
↓ F. Beltran ↑H. Sotelo 83'
85' Lorenz Assignon
B. Iglesias (I. Moriba) 86'
Ilaix Moriba 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
VfB Stuttgart
Goalkeepers
A. Nubel 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
1
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
Defenders
L. Assignon
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
F. Jeltsch 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
25
Entry
R. Hendriks 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
56%
Duel Win %
M. Mittelstadt 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
C. Andres
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
A. Stiller
ARCHITECT
6
Key Passes
6
Key Passes
1
Assists
83%
Pass Acc
B. Bouanani 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
B. El Khannouss
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
J. Leweling
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
E. Demirovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
F. Bredlow 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Vagnoman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Jaquez 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
D. Zagadou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Chabot
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Fuhrich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Karazor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Catovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Tomas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Jovanovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Celta Vigo
Goalkeepers
I. Radu
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
15%
Pass Acc
Defenders
J. Rodriguez
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
C. Starfelt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Alonso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
J. El Abdellaoui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
61
Entry
F. Beltran
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
I. Moriba
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
38%
Pass Acc
O. Mingueza 
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
56
Passes
12
Duels
BENCH
I. Villar
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Fernandez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rueda
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
C. Dominguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Lago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Roman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Swedberg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Sotelo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Alvarez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Iglesias 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
B. Zaragoza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/26/2025 | VfB Stuttgart | 2 - 1 | Celta Vigo | Friendlies Clubs | Stadion an der Kreuzeiche |
07/26/2025
VfB Stuttgart Win
Celta Vigo Win
Draw
League Standings
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +5
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -7
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -10
P: 8 GD: -11
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Stuttgart's Relentless Siege Breaks Celta's Resistance
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 45/100. A relentless offensive display from the German side eventually overwhelmed their Spanish visitors on a pulsating European night.
Early German Dominance
MHP Arena witnessed a largely one-sided opening half as VfB Stuttgart immediately imposed their tactical will. The hosts controlled possession with a commanding 59% share, pinning Celta Vigo deep in their own defensive third and racking up a remarkably high Intensity rating through constant, suffocating offensive waves. Lorenz Assignon was entirely instrumental in setting the early tempo, locking down the right flank defensively while aggressively pushing forward to sustain the relentless pressure. The Spanish visitors struggled immensely to find any tactical Balance, facing a barrage of attempts from all angles. Mounting corner pressure—amounting to 11 total set-pieces across the match—left the away side scrambling, blocking shots and fighting desperately just to survive until the halftime interval.
The Decisive Breakthrough
The relentless mounting pressure finally fractured Celta's stubborn resolve shortly after the restart. A brilliant sequence of play saw goalkeeper A. Nubel expertly trigger a rapid transition, catching the defense off guard and culminating in B. Bouanani finding the back of the net in the 51st minute. Instead of sitting back to protect their narrow advantage, Stuttgart kept their foot firmly on the gas pedal. The true defining moment arrived in the 68th minute when midfield maestro A. Stiller threaded a pristine, defense-splitting pass directly into the path of B. El Khannouss, who ruthlessly doubled the advantage. This crucial strike effectively settled the immediate Stakes for the home side, converting their overwhelming statistical superiority into a concrete two-goal cushion.
A Late Scare in Swabia
Refusing to quietly accept a frustrating European defeat on the road, Celta Vigo found an unexpected lifeline in the dying embers of the match. Substitute B. Iglesias proved his worth as a true game-changer off the bench, clinically latching onto a precise ball from I. Moriba in the 86th minute to suddenly set up a nervy, tense finale in Swabia. Despite the late drama and a brief, looming threat of a shocking Upset, Stuttgart's overall dominance simply proved too much to overcome. Boasting 19 total shots to Celta's meager 8, the hosts thoroughly deserved the result. The hard-fought 2-1 victory propels Stuttgart up the league stage standings, solidifying their continental ambitions while leaving Celta empty-handed.
Key Questions
How did substitute Bilal El Khannouss change the game?
He provided a crucial spark, scoring Stuttgart's decisive second goal in the 68th minute and completely shifting the match's momentum in their favor.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Early Positioning in the Europa League Race
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 13/100. A subdued start to the European campaign where early points are crucial, but a lack of overarching jeopardy makes this a skippable affair for neutrals.
The Setup
As we enter Matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League at the MHP Arena, the Stakes are understandably low. It is early days in the 36-team league phase, where finishing above the top-24 playoff line is the absolute baseline to survive and advance. VfB Stuttgart come in boasting a highly impressive Form rating locally, having won four of their last five matches. Midfielders like A. Stiller and N. Woltemade add quiet, methodical competence to their core. On the flip side, Celta Vigo arrive with a modest Stars appeal but bring undeniable grit to Germany, hoping to secure an early road result to ease their path. The overall Balance of the tie leans slightly toward the hosts, yet both clubs are treating this as a baseline builder rather than a defining continental showdown.
Key Battle
With no towering marquee names dominating the narrative, this match will be decided strictly in the engine room. Stuttgart’s central midfield trio will attempt to dictate the tempo and suffocate the visitors' passing lanes early on. Celta Vigo’s counter-measure relies entirely on their wide players and full-backs quickly transitioning from defense to attack. If the German outfit successfully controls possession and denies those escape routes, Celta's backline will face an incredibly long evening.
Our Prediction
Stuttgart to grind out a narrow 1-0 victory. Expect a cautious, methodical affair where Celta sits deep and frustrates the hosts, until a late set-piece or momentary lapse in concentration decides the points.