How Stuttgart took control early

The first half was one-way traffic in terms of structure and quality. Stuttgart enjoyed 71% possession and stacked up 314 accurate passes to Viking’s 101, repeatedly entering the final third with 47 entries to 19. Their 3-2-4-1 build gave the midfield an extra rest station, and it showed with steady progression through Angelo Stiller and Grischa Prömel.

The breakthrough arrived on 20 minutes, when Stiller slipped a neat pass for Demirović to finish. Viking answered two minutes later through captain Zlatko Tripić, but the response from Stuttgart was swift. Demirović struck again on 26 minutes from a Deniz Undav assist, then completed a ruthless 12-minute treble at 32 minutes, once more fed by Undav. By halftime, shots on target were level at 3-3, but Stuttgart’s attempts carried far greater weight, reflected in first-half xG on target of 1.36 to 0.23 and four big chances created.

Viking’s response after the break

Viking adjusted after the interval and made the contest more even. Possession split 53% to 47% in Stuttgart’s favor, but Viking edged final-third entries 28 to 25, won 52% of overall duels, and pressed into 10 second-half tackles to Stuttgart’s three. Their bench also provided fresh legs in defense, with Henrik Sælebakke Falchener steadying the back line.

The problem was turning effort into chances. The second half finished without a shot on target for either side, and Viking’s xG reached just 0.50 despite better territory. Stuttgart still produced 10 attempts after the break, yet most were from lower-value positions, with eight off target and two blocked, and they also rattled the woodwork once. Interceptions showcased the hosts’ game management, 9-3, while recoveries stood at 30-22, a neat indicator of Stuttgart’s compactness when defending a lead.

The numbers behind 3-1

Across 90 minutes, Stuttgart’s platform was possession and passing volume. They completed 540 accurate passes to Viking’s 274 and logged 72 final-third entries to 47. With 62% possession, they kept Viking chasing and were rarely rushed on the ball, hitting 25 of 46 long balls (54%) compared to the visitors’ 14 of 66 (21%). It meant control of tempo and field position more often than not.

Shot volume favored Stuttgart 17-9, with an 11-5 edge inside the box. Both sides finished with three shots on target, but the hosts produced far better chances overall: five big chances to one, and three of those converted. Touches in the penalty area were 29 to 20, and offsides 4-0 underlined Stuttgart’s aggressive line and repeated runs in behind.

In crosses, Viking’s accuracy (4/12, 33%) topped Stuttgart’s (3/17, 18%), yet the home side created more danger through central combinations. On the defensive side, Viking had to clear 31 times to Stuttgart’s 20, a byproduct of sustained pressure. Goalkeeping numbers tell another tale: Viking’s Arild Østbø finished with 0 saves and -1.64 goals prevented, while Fabian Bredlow made two first-half saves and posted -0.77 goals prevented. When the only three on-target efforts you face in a half go in, there’s not much margin for error.

MVP: Ermedin Demirović’s ruthless finishing

Ermedin Demirović delivered the night’s headline with a first-half hat-trick and a Sofascore Rating of 9.9. The Stuttgart striker needed just 62 minutes to put the tie out of reach, finishing with four shots, three on target and expected goals of 1.102 (xGOT 1.3591). He completed 18 of 22 passes, won three aerial duels, and still found time for three ball recoveries.

His movement for all three goals was clinical: near-post instincts for the first, good positioning on the second, and a calm right-footed strike for the third. The finishing was precise rather than flashy, which is usually the best kind. Around him, the supply line hummed. Angelo Stiller quietly ran the game with 97/105 passes, two key passes and one assist, earning an 8.5. Deniz Undav added two assists and three key passes with a 7.7, even if a couple of big chances went begging and one effort clipped the post. For Viking, Tripić’s 8.2 reflected a sharp goal, busy ball-carrying and leadership in a tough away assignment.