The UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-offs mark the beginning of the decisive stretch of the 2025/26 campaign. With a place in the round of 16 at stake, margins are thin and experience often proves decisive.
Celtic host Stuttgart in Glasgow, while Fenerbahçe welcome Nottingham Forest to Istanbul in two of the headline ties. Several of these sides have already met earlier in the season, adding an extra tactical layer to the rematches.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the key storylines ahead of the first legs — with kick-off times listed in CET and Indonesian Western Time (WIB).
First Legs – 19 February 2026
Kick-off at 18:45 CET (00:45 WIB, 20 February)
- Fenerbahçe vs Nottingham Forest
- GNK Dinamo (Zagreb) vs Genk
- PAOK vs Celta
- Brann vs Bologna
Kick-off at 21:00 CET (03:00 WIB, 20 February)
- Celtic vs Stuttgart
- Lille vs Crvena Zvezda
- Panathinaikos vs Viktoria Plzeň
- Ludogorets vs Ferencváros
Headline Fixtures
Celtic vs Stuttgart
Kick-off: 21:00 CET (03:00 WIB, 20 February)
The storyline: The last time these clubs met in European competition was in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup round of 16. Celtic advanced 5–4 on aggregate under Martin O’Neill, despite losing 3–2 in Germany in the second leg. Their 3–1 home victory in Glasgow ultimately proved decisive.
O’Neill, now serving as interim head coach once again, faces a very different challenge two decades later. Stuttgart arrive with greater tactical flexibility and a squad built around structured pressing and transitional pace. For Celtic, the atmosphere at Celtic Park could once again be decisive — but history alone will not be enough.
Key stat: Since Stuttgart’s last visit, Celtic have faced Bundesliga opposition nine times at home, recording two wins, one draw and six defeats.
Fenerbahçe vs Nottingham Forest
Kick-off: 18:45 CET (00:45 WIB, 20 February)
The storyline: Nottingham Forest travel to Türkiye for the first time in their history. Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, already hosted English opposition earlier this season, narrowly losing 0–1 to Aston Villa in a match where they created significant chances.
Head coach Domenico Tedesco reflected after that defeat: bold attacking football can open space against Premier League opposition, and Forest possess the technical quality to punish defensive lapses.
Forest’s European return after nearly three decades adds further intrigue. Their last continental campaign prior to this season ended in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
Key stat: Nottingham Forest had not played European football since the 1995/96 UEFA Cup before this Europa League campaign.
PAOK vs Celta
Kick-off: 18:45 CET (00:45 WIB, 20 February)
The storyline: PAOK were beaten 1–3 by Celta earlier in the league phase, but that result may not fully reflect the balance of play. Celta coach Claudio Giráldez downplayed the significance of that encounter, noting that both teams will have opportunities home and away.
However, PAOK’s home record against Spanish opposition is formidable. The Greek side have never lost at home to Spanish clubs (W4 D3), and remarkably have conceded just once in those matches — a 4–4 draw with Atlético Madrid in 1997.
Key stat: PAOK have conceded only one goal in their last six home European matches (W3 D3).
Other Key Talking Points
Ludogorets face Ferencváros in a rematch of their earlier league phase meeting, where the Hungarian side won 3–1. Europa League top scorer Petar Stanić, who has seven goals in the competition, failed to score in that encounter and will look to correct that this time.
Brann return to European knockout football for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Norwegian side already drew 0–0 with Bologna earlier in the season in Italy, suggesting a tightly contested tie.
Lille also face familiar opposition. The French club lost narrowly in Belgrade against Crvena Zvezda during the league phase, with Marko Arnautović scoring the decisive late penalty.
Second Legs – 26 February 2026
The return fixtures will determine which eight clubs advance to the round of 16.
Kick-off at 18:45 CET (00:45 WIB, 27 February)
- Viktoria Plzeň vs Panathinaikos
- Ferencváros vs Ludogorets
- Crvena Zvezda vs Lille
- Stuttgart vs Celtic
Kick-off at 21:00 CET (03:00 WIB, 27 February)
- Bologna vs Brann
- Genk vs GNK Dinamo
- Nottingham Forest vs Fenerbahçe
- Celta vs PAOK
Tactical Themes to Monitor
Across these ties, several patterns are emerging:
- Home advantage remains critical, particularly in Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Glasgow, where atmospheres can influence momentum and officiating dynamics.
- Squad depth may prove decisive, with multiple teams balancing domestic commitments.
- Rematches from the league phase create psychological complexity, especially where one side already holds a recent head-to-head advantage.
The knockout phase play-offs often produce narrow aggregate margins. Discipline, set-piece efficiency and in-game adaptability are likely to separate those who progress from those who fall short.
For a deeper analytical breakdown and expert score predictions for each tie, see our dedicated preview article with full tactical projections and expected outcomes.
