The teams are in the tunnel, and kick-off will commence shortly in Stuttgart. Viking FK have lost 10 of their 12 prior Champions League/European Cup fixtures (W1 D1), with their only victory coming with a 2-1 success against Banik Ostrava in September 1976.
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Meanwhile, Morten Jensen has made two changes to the starting XI that faced Dinamo Zagreb in the qualifying round. Jesper Daland and Henrik Bjordal come in today for Henrik Falchener and Edvin Austbo.
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Sebastian Hoeness names a strong starting XI for Stuttgart. Former Leicester City forward Bilal El Khannouss will support Ermedin Demirovic up top. Deniz Undav, who excelled for Germany in the 2026 World Cup, captains the side.
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VIKING FK SUBS: Herman Haugen, Viljar Vevatne, Romano Postema, Ola Visted, Amin Cosic, Erik Botheim, Niklas Fuglestad, Vetle Auklend, Henrik Falchener, Simen Kvia-Egeskog, Lubomir Belko, Jakob Hansen.
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VIKING FK (4-3-3): Arild Ostbo; Kristoffer Haugen, Jesper Daland, Gianni Stensness, Henrik Heggheim; Kristoffer Askildsen, Joe Bell, Tobias Moi; Zlatko Tripic, Peter Christiansen, Henrik Bjordal.
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STUTTGART SUBS: Ameen Al-Dakhil, Ramon Hendriks, Josha Vagnoman, Atakan Karazor, Dzenan Pejcinovic, Marius Funk, Jarzinho Malanga, Leo Sauer, Yanik Spalt.
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STUTTGART (4-2-3-1): Fabian Bredlow; Maximilian Mittelstadt, Jeff Chabot, Finn Jeltsch, Jamie Leweling; Angelo Stiller, Grischa Promel; Chris Fuhrich, Deniz Undav, Bilal El Khannouss; Ermedin Demirovic.
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For the first time since 2005-06, Viking FK will participate in the group stage of a major European cup competition. That campaign saw them eliminated from the UEFA Cup group stage, after winning just one of their four outings (D1 L2). This will be Viking FK's first appearance in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League since 1983-84, when they were defeated 5-1 on aggregate in their first round tie against Partizan Belgrade (lost 1-5 away, drew 0-0 at home).
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Stuttgart return to the UEFA Champions League on a three-game losing run in major European competition, having lost their final three in the UEFA Europa League last season. They last lost four in a row between September and November 2007 in the Champions League. The German side have only faced one other Norwegian team in major European competition, losing at home (0-1) and away (0-2) against Molde in the group stage of the 2012-13 Europa League.
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Hello and welcome to live coverage of this UEFA Champions League contest between Stuttgart and Viking FK at MHPArena!
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Referee Nenad Minakovic blows the whistle, and we are underway for the first half at MHPArena!
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The hosts look to make a fast start as Leweling races down the right before cutting it back to El Khannouss. The attacker floats a delivery to the far post, but it's smothered by Ostbo.
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The visitors win a free-kick on the half-way line after captain Tripic is clattered from behind by Fuhrich. The referee does not consider it to be dangerous, deciding to keep his cards in his pocket.
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Good play from Leweling, as he flicks it into the path of Demirovic, who is through on goal. However, the assistant referee flags for offside against the Stuttgart striker! Replays show the decision was correct!
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Hello and welcome to live coverage of this UEFA Champions League league-phase contest between Stuttgart and Viking FK at MHPArena!
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Since the Champions League rebrand in 1992, Viking FK have become just the fourth Norwegian side to make it to the competition’s group stage after Bodo/Glimt, Molde and Rosenborg. Of those three sides, none won their opening match in the tournament (D1 L2).
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CHANCE! After Askildsen sees his shot on target blocked by Promel, Bjordal tests Bredlow with a header from the resulting corner, but the Stuttgart shot stopper is able to smother the danger!
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Fuhrich makes a driving run down the left-hand side before it cutting back from the byline. Demirovic is ready to pounce, but Daland is in the right place at the right time to clear away the threat.
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CHANCE FOR VIKING FK! After Askildsen sees his shot on target blocked by Promel, Bjordal tests Bredlow with a header from the resulting corner, but the Stuttgart shot stopper is able to smother the danger!
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Stuttgart look to attack the Viking FK goal, but Stiller concedes possession cheaply...
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SAVE!
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SAVE! The visitors almost make Stiller pay for his sloppiness! The Viking FK defender floats an exquisite ball over the Stuttgart defence, and into the path of Christiansen. The attacker holds it up before squaring it for Askildsen just outside the 18-yard box. The midfielder tries to find the bottom-right corner, but it's safely gathered by Bredlow!
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Goal Ermedin Demirovic
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Assist Angelo Stiller
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! STUTTGART TAKE THE LEAD!! 1-0 TO THE HOSTS!
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Goal Zlatko Tripic
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Assist Henrik Bjørdal
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! STUTTGART TAKE THE LEAD!! 1-0 TO THE HOSTS! Fuhrich finds Stiller inside the 18-yard box before the midfielder cuts it back from the byline. It falls into the path of Demirovic, who flicks a close-range effort in off the crossbar, and into the net!
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Stiller gets the assist for the opening goal, finding his team-mate at the near post. Stuttgart have now scored in their last five Champions League games.
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! WELL STUTTGART'S LEAD DID NOT LAST LONG!!! 1-1!!
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! WELL STUTTGART'S LEAD DID NOT LAST LONG!!! 1-1!! The captain scores! Stuttgart lose possession on the half-way line with Bjordal finding Tripic down the left. The attacker takes on Jeltsch inside the box before firing a low finish into the bottom-right corner! Brilliant from Viking FK!
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Goal Ermedin Demirovic
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Bjordal gets the assist, and to be honest, the away side deserve to be level!
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Assist Deniz Undav
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! WHAT A GAME THIS IS! STUTTGART RETAKE THE LEAD!!
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! WHAT A GAME THIS IS! STUTTGART RETAKE THE LEAD!! Undav has space 25 yards out before threading a delightful pass into the path of Demirovic. The striker shows the composure to lift a finish over Ostbo before celebrating with the home supporters! Stuttgart 2-1 Viking FK!
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Former Brighton forward Undav shows excellent awareness to pick out Demirovic inside the box. Demirovic is now two goals away from reaching five in the Champions League.
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What a start it has been at the MHPArena. Both sides are going for this! This is what the Champions League is all about!
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So far, the hosts have registered four shots with two on target, whereas the visitors have mustered four shots with three on target. A brilliant 29 minutes!
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Goal Ermedin Demirovic
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! DEMIROVIC GETS HIS HAT-TRICK!!!! 3-1 TO STUTTGART!!!
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Assist Deniz Undav
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It is another assist for Undav! Interestingly, Stuttgart have scored three goals in the Champions League game for the first time since 21st January 2025 against Slovan Bratislava (W3-1).
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GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! DEMIROVIC GETS HIS HAT-TRICK!!!! 3-1 TO STUTTGART!!! This is shocking goalkeeping from Ostbo! Undav lifts it to Demirovic inside the box. The striker takes a touch before steering an effort towards goal. Ostbo manages to get a touch, but he parries the shot into his own net!
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There was a VAR review for Demirovic's finish. However, the goal stands after VAR rule Demirovic did not handle the ball before finding the back of the net!
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I know it's only the second day of the competition, but Demirovic is already leading the scoring charts with three! Viking FK need to make sure this scoreline does not get messy...
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WIDE! Almost a fourth for the hosts!
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The hosts created seven shots with three on target, reflected by an xG of 1.38, whereas the visitors registered five shots with three on target, highlighted by an xG of 0.24. What an entertaining 45 minutes it has been! We will be back shortly for the second half!
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The half-time whistle sounds at MHPArena as Demirovic’s brilliant 12-minute hat-trick ensures Stuttgart lead Viking FK 3-1. Demirovic found the back of the net in the 20th minute, converting Stiller’s left-wing centre at the near post. The lead only lasted two minutes as captain Tripic found the bottom-right corner after being slipped in by Bjordal. However, Stuttgart restored their advantage in the 26th minute with Undav bending a pass into the path of Demirovic, who lifted a finish over Ostbo before sealing his third six minutes later after Ostbo parried the effort into the net. The Opta predictor currently has Stuttgart as favourites to win this contest with a 97% chance.
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WIDE! Almost a fourth for the hosts! Undav slips in Leweling down the right, with the wing-back making an explosive run into the box. He looks to find the bottom-left corner, but ends up dragging a finish past the post!
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YELLOW! Askildsen picks up the first booking of the contest as he swipes the feet of El Khannouss on the halfway line, just as Stuttgart looked to start a counter...
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HALF-TIME: STUTTGART 3-1 VIKING FK
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There will be two minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.
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We are back underway for the second half at MHPArena!
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CHANCE! The visitors almost pull one back! A long throw-in comes in from the left-hand side with the Stuttgart defence failing to clear the danger away. It falls to Bjordal at the far post, but the attacker sees his attempt blocked by Fuhrich!
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Almost another for Demirovic! Fuhrich shows brilliant footwork to evade a couple of challenges 30 yards from goal. The German then bends a pass into the path of the Bosnian, but Ostbo does enough to smother the danger.
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Bjordal makes a driving run down the right before clipping a ball into the box, but Christiansen's diving header loops over the woodwork. It's been a good start to the second half!
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Yellow Card Peter Christiansen
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YELLOW! Christiansen finds himself in the referee's notebook after tripping El Khannouss just outside the Stuttgart box.
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Viking FK come forward once again, with Tripic seeing his close-range strike blocked by Mittelstadt! So far in this second half, the visitors have registered four shots compared to Stuttgart's one.
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Yellow Card Joe Bell
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YELLOW! Another booking for Viking FK! El Khannouss shows great feet to glide past a couple of players before Bell pulls him down just outside the box! Bell had no intention of winning the ball...
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The resulting free-kick from Fuhrich is poor, as he sends an attempt into the stands! He should have done better there...
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Substitution Jesper Daland Henrik Falchener
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Substitution Joe Bell Erik Botheim
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Substitution Jamie Leweling Josha Vagnoman
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Substitution Ermedin Demirovic Dzenan Pejcinovic
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Stuttgart's other change sees Leweling replaced by Vagnoman.
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Demirovic, the hat-trick hero, comes off to a standing ovation as he is replaced by Pejcinovic.
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The other Viking FK change sees Daland make way for Falchener.
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A couple of changes for the visitors as well. Bell, who just got booked, comes off for Botheim.
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CLOSE!
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CLOSE! Undav tries his luck from just outside the box, but the Stuttgart captain sees his attempt hit the roof of the net!
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Viking FK look to pull a goal back as Tripic hangs a left-wing delivery for the far post, but it's easily cleared by the Stuttgart defence...
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Substitution Tobias Moi Simen Kvia-Egeskog
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The second change sees Haugen make way for Auklend.
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A couple of changes for the visitors. The first substitution sees Moi replaced by Kvia-Egeskog.
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Substitution Bilal El Khannouss Leo Sauer
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Substitution Finn Jeltsch Ramon Hendriks
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The lively El Khannouss is replaced by Sauer.
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Hoeness also decides to make two changes. Jeltsch comes off for Hendriks.
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Viking FK win a couple of corners on the left-hand side, but both set pieces come to nothing with Pejcinovic and Bredlow intercepting...
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Compared to the first half, there has not been much action in the final third of the second half, with both sides struggling to have an effort on target.
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Viking FK want a penalty, but the referee says NO! The appeals come after Kvia-Egeskog goes down under a challenge from Chabot!
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VAR had a look at that penalty appeal, but they also agree with the referee's original decision not to award a spot kick. I think that's the right decision!
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What a run from Vagnoman down the right-hand side, with the substitute seeing his eventual cross intercepted for a corner kick. However, the resulting set piece comes to nothing.
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Substitution Henrik Heggheim Herman Haugen
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Another change for the visitors sees Heggheim make way for Haugen.
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Substitution Maximilian Mittelstädt Ameen Al-Dakhil
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Mittelstadt receives a standing ovation as he comes off for Al-Dakhil.
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OVER! Almost another for the hosts! Sauer slips in Undav inside the box with the former Brighton forward firing inches past the upright!
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There will be three minutes of additional time at the end of the second half.
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Lineups
Stuttgart (4-2-3-1) coached by Sebastian Hoeness
Fabian Bredlow, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Jeff Chabot, Finn Jeltsch, Jamie Leweling, Angelo Stiller, Grischa Prömel, Chris Fuhrich, Deniz Undav, Bilel El Khanouss, Ermedin Demirovic
Viking (4-3-3) coached by Morten Jensen
Arild Østbø, Kristoffer Haugen, Jesper Daland, Gianni Stensness, Henrik Heggheim, Kristoffer Askildsen, Joe Bell, Tobias Moi, Zlatko Tripić, Peter Christiansen, Henrik Bjordal