Demirović Hat-Trick Gives Stuttgart a 3-1 Champions League Win

VfB Stuttgart began their UEFA Champions League League Stage campaign with a 3-1 victory over Viking at MHPArena on Wednesday, September 9. The match was effectively decided before half-time, with all four goals arriving in a 12-minute spell. Stuttgart led 3-1 at the interval and protected that advantage after the break.

Demirović strikes three times

Ermedin Demirović was the central figure in Stuttgart’s decisive first-half surge. He opened the scoring in the 20th minute, converting after an assist from Angelo Stiller. Viking responded only two minutes later through Zlatko Tripić, who finished from Henrik Bjørdal’s assist to make it 1-1.

The response from Stuttgart was immediate. Demirović restored the hosts’ lead in the 26th minute, with Deniz Undav providing the assist. Four minutes later, the same combination produced Stuttgart’s third goal: Undav supplied Demirović again, completing the forward’s hat-trick and establishing the final score.

Stuttgart control the overall play

The statistics showed Stuttgart as the more commanding side. They held 62% possession and completed 540 accurate passes compared with Viking’s 273. Their total passing figures were 626 to 384, while they also led 16-9 in total shots and 10-5 in shots inside the box.

However, the shot-on-target figures were level at 3-3, and Viking won the corner count 5-4. That meant Stuttgart’s control did not translate into a large advantage in efforts on target, although their finishing in the first half proved decisive. Stuttgart also registered nine shots off goal to Viking’s one, while both teams recorded two goalkeeper saves for the hosts’ goalkeeper and none for Viking’s.

Cards and second-half changes

Viking received all three yellow cards in the match. Kristoffer Askildsen was booked in the 42nd minute, followed by Peter Christiansen in the 54th and Joe Bell in the 58th. There were no red cards, and both teams committed 13 fouls.

Demirović was substituted in the 62nd minute after his three-goal contribution, with Dženan Pejčinović replacing him. Stuttgart also brought on Josha Vagnoman for Jamie Leweling. Viking made two changes at the same time and two more in the 71st minute, but could not reduce the deficit.

A decisive opening result

Demirović was the standout performer, earning a 9.5 rating after scoring three goals and recording three shots on target in 62 minutes. D. Undav also made a notable contribution with two assists and three key passes over 90 minutes.

The result gives Stuttgart a winning start, while Viking’s recent sequence of a draw and a win is followed by defeat. The supplied standings list Stuttgart 21st and Viking 22nd, with both shown on zero points from zero games before the league-stage result was reflected in that table.