Ermedin Demirovic delivered a first-half masterclass, scoring a stunning 12-minute hat-trick to lead the VfB Stuttgart to a 3-1 victory against Viking Stavanger in their opening match of the new UEFA Champions League league phase. Playing on the club’s 133rd anniversary at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, the Bundesliga side overcame a shaky start thanks to their Bosnian striker’s ruthless finishing.
“Das ist ein Tag, den ich in meinem Leben nicht vergessen werde,” Demirovic said after the match, according to sportschau.de coverage. “Jeder träumt davon, in der Champions League zu spielen und dort ein Tor zu machen – jetzt habe ich drei in einer Halbzeit gemacht, das ist unfassbar.”
Stuttgart Survives Early Storm Before Demirovic Strikes
The visitors from Norway arrived in Germany with aggressive intentions, testing the hosts early through rapid transitions. Viking Stavanger forced VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow into early action, with Henrik Björdal and Kristoffer Askildsen both registering dangerous efforts within the opening 17 minutes. Despite controlling possession, Stuttgart struggled to break down the Norwegian defensive block until the 20th minute.
The deadlock broke when Angelo Stiller cut the ball back from the left baseline, allowing Demirovic to steer a precise shot off the underside of the crossbar with the outside of his boot. The visitors struck back instantly on a counterattack when Zlatko Tripic equalized in the 22nd minute, silencing the celebratory atmosphere in Stuttgart temporarily.
A Rapid-Fire Hat-Trick Secures the Points
Parity lasted only minutes as Deniz Undav began dictating the tempo with pinpoint distribution. In the 26th minute, Undav delivered a long pass that found Demirovic, who again beat Viking goalkeeper Arild Östbö with a shot dipping directly under the crossbar. Six minutes later, Demirovic completed his treble by chesting down another delivery from his strike partner before firing a clinical volley past Östbö in the 32nd minute.
According to match reports, the 28-year-old forward’s explosive burst effectively sealed the contest before the halftime whistle, leaving the score at 3-1. FC Köln.
Managing the Match in the Second Half
The second period offered a much quieter affair as Stuttgart shifted focus toward preserving their two-goal cushion. Viking threatened to halve the deficit around the hour mark when Bredlow rushed out of his penalty area, forcing defender Jeff Chabot to make a crucial defensive clearance against Askildsen.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s side controlled the tempo for the remainder of the fixture, coming closest to adding a fourth goal when Undav struck the goalpost in the 94th minute. The defensive solidity ensured that Stuttgart safely navigated the final whistle without further scares.
Upcoming Fixtures and Schedule
With the opening European hurdle cleared, the focus for VfB Stuttgart shifts immediately back to domestic and international commitments. The club travels to face TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday at 15:30 CET. Looking ahead in the UEFA Champions League, Stuttgart’s next fixture in the league phase takes them on the road to face Slovan Bratislava on October 14.
