Ermedin Demirović scored three times before half-time as VfB Stuttgart beat Viking 3-1 in their first Champions League fixture of the season. The goals came in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes, turning the match quickly and giving Stuttgart the sort of fast European start Sebastian Hoeneß would have wanted. Demirović finished the chances, but the shape of Stuttgart's attack deserves almost as much attention as the hat-trick itself.
Stuttgart were clinical in a short burst. Demirović's three-goal run arrived inside 12 minutes of his first strike, which is why the game felt under control long before the break. For a player carrying a season rating of 6.4 across 4 appearances and 371 minutes before this match, it was a sharp jump in output and a reminder that one night can change the feel around a forward very quickly.
Stuttgart's attacking support around Demirović
The obvious headline is the hat-trick, but Stuttgart were not relying on hopeful service into one striker. Deniz Undav produced 2 assists in the match, and his wider numbers help explain why Demirović had so much support around him. Undav has 3 goals in 4 appearances this season and a 7.6 average rating, which points to a front line carrying threat in more than one place.
That balance matters for Stuttgart because it stops opponents locking onto one reference point. When Demirović attacked the box, Undav was still able to create. When the move needed a deeper starting point, Angelo Stiller supplied the opening assist. Even with Stiller's season rating sitting at 6.3, he still played his part in the build-up that gave Stuttgart early control.
This is the part Hoeneß will like most. Demirović took the spotlight, but the goals were not all the same and they did not arrive from one repeated pattern. Three goals before the interval from a central striker is impressive on its own. It looks better when the supply comes from different teammates and the defending side cannot settle.
Viking's difficult first meeting with Stuttgart
Viking had never previously faced Stuttgart, and the first meeting quickly got away from them. Stuttgart's early edge became a scoreboard problem once Demirović struck for the first time, and the second and third goals followed before Viking had a chance to reset properly.
The visitors still found a goal of their own through Zlatko Tripić, which kept the final score at 3-1 rather than turning into something heavier. Even so, the match had already been shaped by the half-hour mark. For a Champions League opener, that is about as efficient as Stuttgart could have asked for.
There was a bit of continuity in the selection too. Hoeneß made two changes to the side that had beaten Cologne, while Viking also made two alterations. Stuttgart already sit fourth in the Bundesliga, so this was not an isolated good night from nowhere. It followed a strong domestic start and carried that level into Europe.
The next date for Stuttgart
The result gives Stuttgart a clean platform for the rest of the group stage, but the more interesting part may be what it says about their attacking setup. Demirović's finishing won the game, yet Undav's 2 assists and the early contribution from Stiller suggest Stuttgart have enough variety to trouble sides who defend the box better than Viking did.
Their next Champions League match comes on 14 October, when Stuttgart travel to Slovan Bratislava after opening the campaign with a 3-1 win and a first-half hat-trick from Demirović.
FAQ
Why was Ermedin Demirović's hat-trick so important for Stuttgart against Viking?
Demirović scored in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes, so the game was largely settled before half-time. His three goals powered Stuttgart to a 3-1 win over Viking in their first Champions League fixture of the season and set the tone for the campaign.
How did Deniz Undav help Stuttgart beat Viking in the Champions League?
Undav's contribution went beyond sharing the attack with Demirović. He produced 2 assists in the match and came into it with 3 goals in 4 appearances this season, which points to Stuttgart carrying more than one serious end-product threat in the final third.
When do Stuttgart play next in the Champions League after beating Viking?
Stuttgart's next Champions League fixture is on 14 October, when they travel to Slovan Bratislava. They go into that match after opening the campaign with a 3-1 win over Viking built on Demirović's first-half hat-trick.
Was Stuttgart's win over Viking only about Demirović finishing chances?
No. Demirović took the headlines, but Stuttgart's attacking structure also stood out. Undav supplied 2 assists in the match, and Angelo Stiller set up the opener, showing the chances came from several parts of the side rather than one isolated source.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
