It is just as well Martin O’Neill wanted no celebration of his 1,000th game in professional management. Stuttgart used the occasion of their visit to Glasgow to demonstrate the chasm between themselves and Celtic. Men against Bhoys.

Next week’s return leg in this Europa League playoff feels a formality. O’Neill’s selection in Germany will be intriguing, given lingering battles on the domestic front. Celtic’s on field regression is the most stark of things, given a year ago they were frightening Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Stuttgart may have bigger fish to fry than this competition. Nonetheless, at Celtic Park their approach was impressive. Stuttgart could and should have scored more. They will be quietly content of a place in the last 16 being secure.

The evening had opened in unedifying style for Celtic. Only seconds after kick-off, supporters threw tennis balls on the pitch as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with the club’s board of directors.

The protest felt half-hearted yet Uefa are likely to take a dim view of a delay in play which lasted for three minutes. One of umpteen fascinating aspects of this strangest of Celtic campaigns involves the split between supporter base and boardroom....