Champions League hat‑trick sparks VfB Stuttgart’s early jubilation

Ermedin Demirovic delivered a 12‑minute hat‑trick for VfB Stuttgart in their Champions League opening match on 9 September 2026, turning a 0‑0 start into a 3‑1 lead against Viking Stavanger before the break, in the group stage, in front of 57,500 spectators.

Demirovic’s rapid hat‑trick

Demirovic opened the scoring in the 20th minute after a slick move involving Chris Führich and Angelo Stiller, slipping the ball under the crossbar. He doubled Stuttgart’s advantage six minutes later with a powerful finish, again assisted by captain Deniz Undav, before completing his trio in the 32nd minute, the third strike also set up by Undav. The brief interval of 12 minutes produced three goals, a feat described in the German coverage as a “Früher Demirovic‑Dreierpack”.

Stuttgart’s historic return

The victory marked Stuttgart’s first Champions League win in the group phase after a 588‑day absence, the club having lost 1‑4 to Paris Saint‑Germain in their previous appearance. Under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, the Swabians celebrated the achievement on the club’s 133th birthday, with both teams observing a tribute to the Nepal flood victims and the recently deceased Norwegian King Harald V. The match also featured a brief equaliser from former Greuther Fürth midfielder Zlatko Tripic in the 22nd minute, briefly restoring parity before Demirovic’s third goal.

Opposition and match dynamics

Viking Stavanger, returning to Europe’s elite competition after more than three decades, pressed early and forced Stuttgart to defend a narrow margin. Goalkeeper Arild Østbø struggled with Demirovic’s shots, and a miscommunication between Stuttgart goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow and midfielder Grischa Prömel almost allowed a 3‑2 scoreline in the 61st minute. Despite the pressure, Stuttgart maintained control and added a late surge, with Undav missing a chance in the 87th minute.

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Looking ahead to the next round

Stuttgart’s next Champions League fixture comes in mid‑October against Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, a test of whether the early momentum can be sustained. Coach Hoeneß hinted that the squad will build on the “Gelungener Königsklassen‑Auftakt” and keep the attacking rhythm that produced the 12‑minute hat‑trick.