Bhoys blast back to earn two-goal cushion for return

Celtic 3, Stuttgart 1

Martin O’Neill took the biggest gamble of his managerial career by bringing Robert Douglas straight back into his side. But the odds were also stacked against the Scottish champions with Henrik Larsson injured, John Hartson suspended and O’Neill sat in the stand.

Maloney was given the unenviable task of replacing the Swedish star, while Jackie McNamara came in for Ulrik Laursen in defence.

Maloney got an early touch to settle any nerves he may have had and it was only a tough challenge from Andreas Hinkel that stopped him in his tracks.

The youngster was again in the wars a minute later when he was clattered into by Silvio Meissner near the touchline and he curled his free-kick straight into the hands of Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hilderbrand.

Douglas was again desperately scurrying across goal when Kevin Kuranyi fired wide from 20 yards and then Amanatidis screwed his shot wide.

The former Dundee keeper did have to make a save in the 15th minute when Bordon got on the end of Balakov’s corner .

But Stuttgart suffered a major blow a minute later when Bordon was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Stilian Petrov, who was clean away.

The referee had his cards out again in the 25th minute, but it was a yellow one this time for Meira for bringing down Petrov again.

But Stuttgart stunned the home crowd into silence two minutes later when the 10 men took the lead. Balakov swung an inviting cross into the box and Kuranyi got ahead of Joos Valgaeren and headed past Douglas from 10 yards.

Celtic went in search of an immediate reply. Didier Agathe fed the overlapping McNamara and Petrov volleyed his cross wide from 12 yards.

The winger then picked out Sutton on the edge of the box with an early cross, but the striker’s header bounced safely wide of the post.

Agathe did well again in the 34th minute to launch a raid down the right flank before crossing to the far post, but Valgaeren could not get on the end of Alan Thompson’s header.

Meissner was also shown a yellow card moments later for another terrible challenge on Maloney.

But Celtic got back on level terms in the 36th minute and it came courtesy of a Lambert wonder strike. Maloney chested Thompson’s cross into the path of the midfielder and he struck a sweet first-time shot past Hilderbrand and into the bottom corner.

Celtic went ahead in the final minute of the half as Maloney capitalised on a huge error by Meira to slide the ball past Hildebrand from close range.

Celtic were looking to wear the 10 men down in the second half by passing the ball around. Agathe could have eased the nerves even further in the 49th minute, but he sliced his right-foot shot well wide.

Thompson was then harshly penalised after charging past Hinkel as his team-mates queued up in the centre.

Celtic were well on top now and the Stuttgart goalkeeper saved from Maloney before Meira made a vital block tackle on Agathe. And the pressure told in the 67th minute when Petrov squeezed a right-foot shot between Hildebrand and his near post from close to the byline.

CELTIC: Douglas, McNamara, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Sutton, Maloney.

VFB STUTTGART: Hildebrand, Hinkel, Bordon, Meira, Gerber, Soldo, Meissner, Hleb, Balakov, Amanatidis, Kuranyi.

Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).