UEFA Champions League Gameweek 1
VfB Stuttgart 3 - 1 FT Viking
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Bournemouth
3-0
AC Milan
⚡ Intensity
75
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
3
🎲 Upset
0
Two penalties, one red card, total control
Futmetrix Verdict
26
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Sturm Graz
1-0
Marseille
⚡ Intensity
22
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
11
🎲 Upset
60
Diakité struck; Marseille never answered
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
20' E. Demirovic (A. Stiller)
Z. Tripic (H. Bjordal) 22'
26' E. Demirovic (D. Undav)
32' E. Demirovic (D. Undav)
HT
Joe Bell 58'
↓ J. Bell ↑E. Botheim 62'
62' ↓ J. Leweling ↑J. Vagnoman
↓ J. Daland ↑H. Falchener 62'
62' ↓ E. Demirovic ↑D. Pejcinovic
71' ↓ F. Jeltsch ↑R. Hendriks
↓ T. Moi ↑S. Kvia-Egeskog 71'
71' ↓ B. El Khannouss ↑L. Sauer
↓ K. Haugen ↑V. Auklend 71'
↓ H. Heggheim ↑H. J. Haugen 84'
86' ↓ M. Mittelstadt ↑A. Al Dakhil
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
VfB Stuttgart
Goalkeepers
Fabian Bredlow 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Finn Jeltsch
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Julian Chabot 
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
72
Passes
17
Duels
Maximilian Mittelstädt
MAGNET
71
Activity
71
Activity
61
Passes
10
Duels
Midfielders
Grischa Prömel
MAGNET
76
Activity
76
Activity
68
Passes
8
Duels
Angelo Stiller
MAGNET
117
Activity
117
Activity
105
Passes
12
Duels
Deniz Undav 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
Bilal El Khannouss 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Jamie Leweling 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Chris Führich
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
46%
Pass Acc
Ermedin Demirović 
HAT-TRICK HERO
3
Goals
3
Goals
3
On Target
9.5
Rating
BENCH
Marius Funk 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ramon Hendriks
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ameen Al Dakhil
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Josha Vagnoman
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Y. Spalt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Atakan Karazor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jarzinho Ataide Adriano de Nascimento Malanga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leo Sauer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dženan Pejčinović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Viking
Goalkeepers
Arild Østbø
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
90
Minutes
Defenders
Henrik Heggheim 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Gianni Stensness
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jesper Daland 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
Kristoffer Haugen
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Tobias Moi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Joe Bell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Kristoffer Askildsen
SWEEPER
2
Cleanups
2
Cleanups
1
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Forwards
Henrik Bjørdal
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
Peter Christiansen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zlatko Tripić
MAGNET
46
Activity
46
Activity
35
Passes
11
Duels
BENCH
Lubomir Belko
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Viljar Vevatne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Herman Haugen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vetle Auklend
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrik Falchener
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jakob Hansen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ola Visted
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Simen Kvia-Egeskog
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Erik Botheim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Niklas Fuglestad
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Romano Postema
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amin Cosic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +7
P: 2 GD: +7
P: 2 GD: +7
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -6
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
VfB Stuttgart
Viking
VfB Stuttgart
Viking
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Demirović's First-Half Hat-Trick Dismantles Viking in Stuttgart
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 52/100. A breathtaking first-half goal flurry transformed an early Champions League skirmish into the Ermedin Demirović show.
Electric Opening Exchange
The MHPArena was absolutely rocking as a breathless European night unfolded in Germany. VfB Stuttgart immediately imposed their will and dominated possession, forcing the visitors deep into their own half. The breakthrough arrived in the 20th minute when Angelo Stiller sliced through the lines to set up Ermedin Demirović. However, any illusions of an easy night were shattered instantly. A mere two minutes later, Viking found a stunning equaliser as Henrik Bjørdal squared the ball for Zlatko Tripić to finish. The sheer Intensity of this early exchange set a chaotic tone. Fans witnessed an unbelievable goal flurry—three strikes hitting the back of the net in just six minutes—proving that neither side was willing to back down in this high-stakes Champions League clash.
The Undav-Demirović Masterclass
That brief moment of parity was quickly extinguished as the match's Balance tilted permanently towards the hosts. The catalyst was a devastating attacking partnership that Viking simply could not contain. In the 26th minute, Deniz Undav stepped into the spotlight as chief creator, sliding a precise pass into the box for Demirović to smash home and restore the advantage. The visitors were reeling, and before they could even adjust their shape, the hammer fell again. Just six minutes later, Undav delivered his second masterful assist of the evening, finding Demirović once more. The Bosnian striker made no mistake, completing an extraordinary first-half hat-trick by the 32nd minute. This ruthless ten-minute sequence fundamentally broke the visitors' resolve and completely dictated the trajectory of the remaining hour.
Cruising to Victory
The second half saw the home side expertly manage the game, utilizing their 62% possession to suffocate any remaining hope in the away end. Stuttgart engineered a high-volume shooting gallery, unleashing 16 shots total over the ninety minutes to keep their opponents pinned back. Viking showed flashes of resistance, attempting nine shots of their own, but they lacked the finishing touch required to mount a serious comeback. Any fleeting hopes of an Upset were well and truly buried by that sensational first-half blitz. This decisive victory not only secures vital Champions League points for Stuttgart but also sends a warning shot across the continent. With Demirović in this kind of lethal form and Undav pulling the strings, they are a formidable force on their home turf.
Key Questions
What made E. Demirović the Man of the Match?
Ermedin Demirović earned Man of the Match honors by scoring a phenomenal first-half hat-trick, clinically dismantling the opposition in just 32 minutes of play.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Stuttgart Expected to Cruise in Champions League Opener
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 6/100. A heavily lopsided matchup that looks destined for a comfortable home victory, offering little intrigue for neutrals.
The Setup
The opening matchday of the UEFA Champions League league stage brings a massive mismatch to the MHPArena on September 09, 2026. European nights under the lights always carry a special aura, but this tie lacks the competitive edge neutrals crave. VfB Stuttgart enter as overwhelming favorites, poised to dictate proceedings from the first whistle. The Stakes are relatively low early in the campaign, as teams just begin to position themselves for top-eight direct qualification, but the lack of Balance is striking. Stuttgart boast dynamic quality, ready to deploy the likes of A. Stiller and J. Leweling to overwhelm the visitors. Viking will rely heavily on their recent Form and the creative sparks of Tobias Moi, but a modest Stars rating limits their ceiling against Bundesliga opposition. The Norwegian side faces a monumental task to keep this contest alive.
Key Battle
The defining clash will not feature individual superstars going toe-to-toe, but rather a broader tactical war. Stuttgart's dynamic midfield will look to dictate the tempo against a deep, compact Viking defensive block. The Norwegian side must absorb relentless pressure, stay disciplined, and try to spring quick counters, relying entirely on their collective organization to frustrate the hosts. If the visitors' lines break early, it could be a long night.
Our Prediction
Stuttgart to win 3-0. The hosts will monopolize possession and methodically break down a stubborn Viking defense. Expect the German side to strike early, crushing any Norwegian hopes of an upset, and cruise to an easy three points. A clinical performance here will perfectly kickstart their push toward the top-24 playoff line.