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Stuttgart turn the Slovak stage into a German workshop
A chilly evening in Bratislava turned into a masterclass for the Swabians. VfB Stuttgart arrived with a clear agenda – three clean sheets, three goals, and a point‑boost that will make the group table wobble in their favour. Slovan, meanwhile, seemed content to provide the backdrop for a showcase they never asked for.
From the first whistle, Stuttgart’s tempo was a polite reminder that the Champions League is not a Sunday friendly. The opening 20 minutes saw Ermedin Demirović drift into the box, shrug off a defender and fire a low‑driven finish past the bewildered Slovak keeper. The Serbian forward’s movement was a lesson in how to make a debut look like a seasoned routine. His 9.65/10 rating tells the whole story: he didn’t just score, he set the tone.
Deniz Undav, the German‑born Bosnian, added a second with a half‑volley that curled past the left‑hand side of the net. The 8.59/10 rating reflects a player who knows how to punish a defensive lapse without breaking a sweat. Undav’s work rate off the ball was just as important – he pressed high, forced a turnover and then turned it into a goal.
The third strike came from Angelo Stiller, the young midfielder who has been quietly building a reputation for composure beyond his years. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, he slipped a pass to Demirović, who slotted it home. Stiller’s 8.27/10 rating underlines a performance that blended defensive discipline with a decisive attacking contribution – the kind of all‑round display that coaches love.
Slovan Bratislava never really got a chance to answer. Their best moments were fleeting, a couple of half‑chances that never threatened the Stuttgart net. The Slovak side’s defensive shape collapsed under the pressure, and the lack of a clear attacking outlet left them looking like a side waiting for a script that never arrived. No official rating is available for their players, but the absence of a single notable performance says it all.
What does this mean for the group? Stuttgart’s three points push them up the standings, likely into the top‑half of the table and keep their qualification hopes alive. Slovan, now three points deeper in the hole, will need to rediscover their spark if they are to avoid the dreaded bottom‑group relegation.
The match was a reminder that in Europe’s premier competition, the margin between a night at the top and a night at the bottom can be as thin as a well‑timed run from Demirović.
Player Ratings
- Ermedin Demirović (Stuttgart) – 9.65/10
- Deniz Undav (Stuttgart) – 8.59/10
- Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart) – 8.27/10
- Slovan Bratislava – N/A