With a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv, VfB Stuttgart took a big step towards the round of 16 in the Europa League.
Lorenz Assignon (24th), Tiago Tomas (37th), Maximilian Mittelstädt (60th) and Josha Vagnoman (90th + 4) ensured a confident 4-1 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Roy Revivo was only able to shorten the score for Israel’s record champions (52′). The Swabians already have twelve points in the Europa League and have a good chance of progressing. Tel Aviv remains in the bottom of the table with just one point.
The fear that the game against the Israeli record champions would lead to politically motivated clashes in the city or around the stadium due to the Middle East conflict was unfounded. The risky game took place off the pitch without any notable incidents.
What happened on the field was more eventful: VfB Stuttgart dominated the game from the start, had more possession of the ball, but did not pose any real threat to score. Tel Aviv retreated very far back, usually had six players in their own penalty area and a chain of four in front of them. Against such a massive defense, the Swabians needed almost 24 minutes for their first big chance. But it led straight to the goal: Chris Führich passed his heel to Maximilian Mittelstädt on the left side. He crossed to the completely unmarked Lorenz Assignon, who completed the attack with a beautiful volley to make it 1-0.
VfB Stuttgart were already well ahead at the break
Führich was also involved in the next dangerous scene. The 27-year-old entered the penalty area at speed from the left and passed it to Deniz Undav, but Maccabi keeper Roi Mishpati wiped the ball away for a corner at the last moment after Undav’s shot (34′).
A little later, however, Mishpati was powerless: Undav was completely free in front of the Israeli goal after a nice one-two with Angelo Stiller. Instead of shooting himself, he passed it across to Tomas, who was running along, who just had to push in (37′). The goal was checked again because Ramon Hendriks and Saied Abu Farchi clashed so violently in midfield that Farchi remained lying. But the Romanian referee Marian Alexandru Barbu gave the goal. Because Tel Aviv really couldn’t get anything going offensively, Stuttgart went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
VfB Stuttgart only trembles briefly
Immediately after the restart, VfB Stuttgart scored the third goal: Atakan Karazor had headed the Brazilian Heitor’s hand, which was stretched far above his head. Barbu immediately pointed to the spot. Mittelstädt confidently converted into the right corner (50th). Anyone who thought that the game was decided was, however, mistaken. A long ball from Itay Ben Hamo almost immediately undermined the entire VfB defense. Roy Revivo took advantage of the chance and shortened for Tel Aviv (52′). Lazar Jovanovic and Alexander Nübel were caught off guard in this situation.
A few minutes later, VfB were lucky when Dor Peretz was free again in a similar situation. However, his shot whizzed a few centimeters past the goal (60th). Afterwards, coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team calmed down the game, let the ball roll and the opponent run. After a corner, Vagnoman even increased the score to 4:1 (90+4).
Now VfB Stuttgart has to go to AS Roma
It was an important victory for VfB Stuttgart, who are now in the top eight of the Europa League who qualify directly for the round of 16. The teams in places 9 to 24 will advance to the intermediate round. At the end of January (January 22, 2026, 9 p.m.), VfB Stuttgart can make it into this intermediate round against AS Roma. A week later (January 29, 2026, 9 p.m.) the last game of the league phase is against PAOK Saloniki.
