Ermedin Demirovic Stars in Stuttgart's 3-1 Champions League Victory
Ermedin Demirovic marked VfB Stuttgart’s 133rd birthday with the kind of ruthless performance strikers dream about and defenders dread, firing a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Viking FK that launched their Champions League league phase in style at the MHP Arena.
Demirovic takes control
Stuttgart started nervously, the occasion and the stakes briefly weighing on Sebastian Hoeness’ side. Passes went astray, Viking found space on the break, and the home crowd had little to shout about.
Then Demirovic arrived.
On 20 minutes, the Bosnian international timed his run perfectly, darting into the box to meet a clever, threaded pass from Angelo Stiller. One touch, one poke past the keeper. Stuttgart’s first real opening, their first real moment of quality, and they led.
The advantage barely had time to settle.
Just two minutes later, Zlatko Tripic punished Stuttgart at the other end, finishing off a sharp counter to level for the Norwegian visitors. The MHP Arena fell flat for a moment. Stuttgart had their lead, and just as quickly, they had thrown it away.
That shock seemed to jolt the hosts into life.
A 12-minute treble
Demirovic responded with the kind of authority that defines top-level forwards. Linking up repeatedly with Deniz Undav, he turned the game into his own personal showcase.
His second goal was all power and precision. Undav helped engineer the opening, and when the chance dropped, Demirovic lashed the ball high into the roof of the net. No hesitation, no doubt. Stuttgart were back in front.
Viking tried to regroup, but the pressure kept building. The spaces grew larger, the duels more one-sided. Demirovic sensed vulnerability and went for the kill.
For his third, he showed a different side to his game. Again combining with Undav, he collected the ball inside the box, killed it with a velvet first touch, and then, under pressure, stayed ice-cold. A quick adjustment, composed finish. Hat-trick complete within 12 frantic minutes. Stuttgart 3, Viking 1 before the interval, and the contest effectively decided.
“The win is a nice way to kick off the Champions League campaign,” Demirovic said afterwards. “We’ve picked up three points and I’m pleased about my three goals.”
Not getting carried away
The scoreline, and Demirovic’s brilliance, could easily have masked some of Stuttgart’s flaws. He refused to let that happen.
Even with a commanding lead, Viking continued to threaten on the counter, especially after the break. Their transitions exposed gaps in Stuttgart’s shape and forced the Bundesliga side into some uncomfortable defensive sprints.
Demirovic acknowledged it, echoing the assessment of head coach Sebastian Hoeness. The message from both: enjoy the win, but recognise the warning signs.
“We also know that we can do better in one or two situations and need to tighten up in our defensive transitions,” Demirovic admitted. “But on the whole, we achieved our objective for this evening.”
Hoeness’ men managed the closing stages with increasing control, slowing the tempo when needed and denying Viking any clear route back into the match. Undav squandered late chances to add further gloss to the scoreline, but by then the outcome was beyond doubt.
A statement start
For Stuttgart, this was exactly the kind of opening they wanted in Europe: three points at home, their main striker brimming with confidence, and a reminder that their attacking combinations can trouble anyone.
Demirovic’s clinical edge offers a major boost as the fixtures start to stack up, domestically and in the Champions League. If he maintains this form, Stuttgart’s anniversary season could turn into something far more significant than just a date on the calendar.
