VfB Stuttgart 3-1 Viking FK: Ermedin Demirovic produced a ruthless 12-minute hat-trick to propel Stuttgart past Viking FK in their UEFA Champions League league-phase opener at the MHPArena.
Stuttgart had the greater share of the ball and the greater attacking purpose from the outset, finishing with 62% possession and 17 attempts. Their pressure told in the 20th minute when Demirovic opened the scoring, giving the home side the breakthrough their early control deserved.
Viking responded immediately and admirably. Zlatko Tripic levelled the match in the 22nd minute, briefly silencing the home crowd and showing the Norwegian visitors could hurt Stuttgart when given the opportunity.
But the contest turned decisively in a breathless spell before the interval. Demirovic restored Stuttgart’s lead in the 26th minute, then completed his hat-trick with a volley in the 32nd minute. Three goals in 12 minutes transformed a tight European fixture into a commanding 3-1 half-time advantage for the Bundesliga side.
Viking competed more stubbornly after the break and won five corners to Stuttgart’s four, but they could not find a route back into the match. Stuttgart’s defence limited the visitors to nine shots overall, while both teams registered three efforts on target.
The second half brought no further goals, though Viking’s frustration showed in bookings for Kristoffer Askildsen in the 42nd minute, Peter Christiansen in the 54th minute and Joe Bell in the 58th minute. Stuttgart managed the closing stages effectively, seeing out a result built on their striker’s devastating first-half finishing.
Demirovic’s 20th-minute opener, 26th-minute second and 32nd-minute volley will dominate the headlines, while Tripic’s 22nd-minute equaliser ensured Viking had their own moment in an entertaining opening half. For Stuttgart, it is an emphatic start to the league phase and a night their No. 9 will not soon forget.
