Celtic 1-4 Stuttgart result - Bilal El Khannouss hits brace as Celtic are left on the brink of UEFA Europa League elimination

Bilal El Khannouss scored twice as Celtic were beaten 4-1 at home by Stuttgart in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off, leaving the Hoops staring down the barrel of elimination.

El Khannouss, on loan from Championship Leicester City, first struck in the 15th minute after Celtic surrendered possession in their own half and Kasper Schmeichel was unable to keep out a shot which was certainly not in the corner.

Celtic were given a lifeline when Stuttgart coughed up the ball deep in their own half and Benjamin Nygren skipped around the goalkeeper to level things, but El Khannouss headed in his second just seven minutes later.

The hosts briefly improved after the break, until a bad Schmeichel error made it 3-1; Jamie Leweling's 20-yard shot finding a way through the goalkeeper at his near post.

It could have been worse for Celtic had a VAR review not disallowed an Ermedin Demirovic strike for offside, but substitute Thiago Tomas did make it 4-1 in stoppage time to complete their misery.

Celtic finished the game with just two shots on target, demonstrating how few questions were asked of a Stuttgart side who are fourth in the Bundesliga and appear a class above on this evidence.

The sides will meet again in Germany next Thursday for the second leg, where Celtic need a remarkable turnaround, but Bayern Munich are the only visiting team to win at Stuttgart this season.

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"Let's be honest, Celtic are not getting back into this tie," says Neil Lennon as the analysis continues on TNT Sports. "If they play like they did tonight, it could be even more.

"What's more disappointing is the manner of the defeat. There was a disconnect all night. On the pitch, in the stands. There was nobody to light the fuse. It was too easy. It could so easily have been five. The finishing was erratic and the set-piece delivery was poor all night.

"Whether the protest at the start of the game had anything to do with it, this is Celtic Park on a European night. This is as good as it gets. Go out and express yourself, but it was so disjointed."

Stiliyan Petrov tells TNT Sports: "I've never seen opposition fans out-sing Celtic here, but that's happened tonight. I was looking for some personality from the Celtic players. When we played, if I didn't put pressure on the opponent, Neil [Lennon] would be in my face."

Lennon adds: "Sometimes, the players have to get the fans going, and tonight they never did. I'm not saying the players didn't try, but they lacked power, intensity and defensive capacity. Stuttgart also had a goal disallowed which was borderline so you could have been looking at a 5-1 scoreline.

"It was far too easy. There was no defensive diligence and then Kasper Schmeichel didn't have one of his better nights in goal. What was in front of him was what disappointed me more than anything."

Celtic defender Liam Scales tells TNT Sports that Stuttgart "took their chances. We could have had a couple more as well but the performance wasn't there. It's definitely not going to derail our season."

"It was totally underwhelming and a very passive performance from Celtic on a big European night," says Neil Lennon on TNT Sports.

"They defended poorly all night. We were looking for a reaction at half-time, there was for five or 10 minutes but then the third Stuttgart goal burst Celtic's bubble. The players didn't defend well and they were far too standoffish.

"That is not a Martin O'Neill team or a Martin O'Neill performance. Probably the most disappointed person inside the stadium will be the manager tonight. I cannot believe the lack of passion and desire that Celtic showed tonight. It was far too easy for Stuttgart."

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"This really highlights the season Celtic have had," says Joe Hart on TNT Sports – and this was before the fourth Stuttgart goal even went in.

"If you look at last season, Celtic did really well in the Champions League, got some incredible away results and took Bayern Munich all the way. But they've really dropped off.

"I was here for the Roma game, and it just felt lifeless inside the stadium. I saw a lot of unrest. Wilfried Nancy's tenure didn't go to plan. There are so many nights this season [like this]. They need to find a way to get this club united again and pulling in the right direction again."

A miserable night for Celtic comes to an end, with their European hopes hanging by a thread.

They conceded four sloppy goals, had just two shots on target, and have a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Stuttgart was solid and can consider this a job well done, but they had it far too easy tonight.

Saracchi slices over, leaning back, and the mercy of the full-time whistle approaches.

Surely that is tie over.

Nartey is allowed to take a loose ball down in midfield and play in Tomas, who lifts the ball over Schmeichel and adds to Celtic's misery.

"It's a real dagger," says Joe Hart. "Tiago Tomas has been really lively since he came on. He's wanted that goal. He takes a big touch but with the outside of his boot, he lifts it over Schmeichel. It's really passive from Celtic."

The Stuttgart goalkeeper is off his line quickly to get to a through ball before Iheanacho can.

Meanwhile Andres comes on for a hobbling Stiller for Stuttgart.

Stuttgart have way more energy and are pushing for a fourth goal, which would really kill off the tie.

Araujo and Trusty make a mess of things in the corner, Nartey escapes with the ball and cuts it back to Undav who has a great chance – but his shot is blocked.

Saracchi gets a cross all wrong but ends up giving Nubel a scare as the ball lands on the roof of the net. The goalkeeper was worried, but Saracchi raises a hand in apology as Yang was his target.

He was not signed in time to play tonight and Celtic fans are likely regretting that fact, given how things have gone.

The American makes a block and stays down, seemingly winded.

The Dane gets down and grabs a long-range Tomas effort, prompting some ironic cheers from the home support. It has been a rough night for Schmeichel.

Tierney makes way for Saracchi; Jaquez and Tomas replace Chabot and Demirovic for Stuttgart.

Tounekti gets loose from his marker and to the byline, but the end product is lacking, not for the first time tonight.