Demirović Hat-Trick Fires Stuttgart to 3-1 Viking Win

VfB Stuttgart marked their Champions League return with a statement 3-1 victory over Viking as Ermedin Demirović’s first-half hat-trick ignited the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The Bosnian striker’s ruthless 26-minute masterclass instantly buried memories of last season’s Bundesliga heartbreak, while the Norwegian visitors found themselves simply overwhelmed by the tempo.

Stuttgart’s Lightning Start

The hosts flew from the traps. Deniz Undav’s clever flick released Demirović on 20 minutes, the striker slotting low past Östbø with the calm of a man who knew this was just the beginning. But Viking’s response was instant – Zlatko Tripić latching onto Henrik Bjørdal’s cutback two minutes later to stun the home crowd into momentary silence.

Demirović Takes Center Stage

Normal service resumed almost immediately. Undav again the architect, his threaded pass finding Demirović peeling away at the near post – a snapshot, a net ripple, 2-1. The striker completed his treble just six minutes later, pouncing on more hesitant defending to lash home from eight yards. Three shots, three goals by the 32nd minute; Viking’s backline already chasing shadows.

The Norwegian side’s evening spiralled with Kristoffer Askildsen’s needless yellow card before half-time, their frustration boiling over as Peter Christiansen and Joe Bell joined him in the book early in the second period. Stuttgart’s midfield trio of Stiller, Prömel and El Khannouss dictated at walking pace, the stats board flashing 62% possession with all the inevitability of a death knell.

Viking’s Valiant But Vain Fight

To their credit, Viking never folded. Tripić threatened sporadically on the break, forcing Bredlow into two smart stops, but with Demirović withdrawn to a hero’s ovation on 62 minutes, Stuttgart’s intensity dropped mercifully. Six yellow shirts camped in their own half for the final quarter, the Bundesliga side content to strangle the life from the contest.

By the time referee blew, Viking’s players slumped where they stood – overrun early, hanging on late. For Stuttgart? A perfect European night. Demirović’s name still echoing around the stands as Champions League football returned on a tide of red flares and unbridled belief.

What This Means

Three points, a +2 goal difference, and a striker in Demirović who now has Europe’s elite on red alert. Stuttgart’s Bundesliga momentum rolls gloriously onto the continent. Viking must regroup quickly – tougher tests await, but their spirited second-half offers crumbs of comfort. The road back to Scandinavia will feel long tonight.