Bundesliga
Stuttgart pay penalty in Basel
Ermedin Demirović missed a first-half penalty as VfB Stuttgart slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Basel in the UEFA Europa League.
Basel 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Ajeti 3', 2-0 Broschinski 84' (assist: Shaqiri)
Basel had already threatened through Jeremy Agbonifo, when Albian Ajeti fired beyond Alex Nübel with just three minutes gone.
Stuttgart were handed the chance to level past the half-hour mark, but Demirović’s penalty was saved by former Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.
Another ex-Bundesliga face almost added salt into the wound before the half-time whistle, but Xherdan Shaqiri's long-range rocket landed on the roof of the net.
As Stuttgart chased the game, Hitz made a brilliant point-blank save to stop Chema Andrés heading in an equaliser after the restart.
The recalled Basel custodian was at it again to foil Tiago Tomás, with Stuttgart's frustrations compounded late on when former Mainz man Moritz Broschinski converted from Shaqiri to put the result beyond doubt.
Stuttgart's next Europa League fixture is away to Fenerbahçe on 23 October.
>>> See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures and results here
Recap the action against Basel below...
2 - 0(0 - 0)
Basel
FINAL
Stuttgart
90' +1
vs
Snap shot from Broschinski!
It should be three for Basel. Hendriks's failed clearance only went as far as Broschinski, who hacked at the ball which sailed just wide of Nübel's left hand post.
90' +1
vs
Josha Vagnoman
Lorenz Assignon
90' +1
vs
Five added minutes
The fourth official has signalled five added minutes of stoppage time.
89'
vs
Adrian Barišić
Ibrahim Salah
84'
vs
Basel double their lead
Stuttgart are caught sleeping and Shaqiri's cross-shot is headed in by Broschinski on the line.
82'
vs
Hitz to the rescue!
It's all Stuttgart at the moment and after a wayward back pass from Adjetey, Hitz is forced into another point bank save, this time to deny Tomás.
80'
vs
Lazar Jovanović
Badredine Bouanani
79'
vs
Stuttgart up the tempo
The visitors have had three set pieces in the space of 90 seconds, and they're not allowing Basel to breathe as they push for an equaliser.
78'
vs
Ibrahim Salah
71'
vs
Moritz Broschinski
Albian Ajeti
71'
vs
Andrej Bačanin
Koba Koindredi
71'
vs
Marin Šotiček
Philip Otele
71'
vs
Double change for Stuttgart
Hoeneß makes two attacking changes as Stuttgart press for an equaliser, and they're almost immediately awarded when Hendriks's header forces Hitz into a reaction save.
70'
vs
Chris Führich
Jamie Leweling
70'
vs
Bilal El Khannouss
Chema Andrés
69'
vs
Dominik Schmid
65'
vs
Stuttgart frustrated
Basel are happy to sit in a low block as Leweling fires another effort over from distance, which doesn't trouble anyone. Stuttgart are visibly frustrated at not being able to break the hosts down.
62'
vs
Ibrahim Salah
Jeremy Agbonifo
57'
vs
Huge chance!
Stiller's free-kick is played short to Mittelstädt who whips in an excellent cross from deep with his left foot. It's met by the head of Chema, who forces Hitz into a point blank save to keep Basel in a slender lead.
52'
vs
Stuttgart start strongly
Central defender Jaquez finds himself out of position in the attacking third, but he whips in a dangerous ball across Basel's six-yard box which is narrowly missed by Tomás.
49'
vs
Side netting!
A bright start from Stuttgart. Assignon finds himself in an excellent position but opts to take on the shot from a tight angle which goes into the side netting.
46'
vs
Teams are out
We are back underway as Basel kick from left to right. Can Stuttgart find an equaliser?
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +2
vs
Close from Basel!
Basel go agonisingly close again. Shaqiri picks the ball up from 35 yards and his effort loops over the stricken Nübel and on to the roof of the net.
45' +2
vs
Wide from Ajeti!
Stuttgart have to be careful here. Route one football from Basel isn't dealt with and the ball falls to Ajeti. The Swiss forward fires the ball just wide of Nübel's post. A warning sign for the visitors.
45' +1
vs
Stoppage time indicated
The fourth official shows up four minutes of stoppage time.
43'
vs
From distance
Bouanani is getting a lot of joy down Basel's left. The Algerian cuts inside before playing a diagonal pass to Leweling, who himself cuts inside onto his favoured right foot before firing low and wide.
33'
vs
Saved!
After a lengthy pause while the challenge was checked by the VAR, Demirović sees his penalty saved by Hitz, who dives low to his right.
33'
vs
Penalty for Stuttgart!
Tomás gets to the ball first and goes down in the box under the challenge of Adjetey.
32'
vs
Leweling fires over
Stuttgart continue to probe for an equaliser and after a prolonged spell of possession, Leweling's ambitious effort from distance sails over Hitz's crossbar.
31'
vs
Albian Ajeti
31'
vs
Ouch
Stuttgart defender Hendriks goes down holding his foot after a painful challenge from Ajeti.
26'
vs
Demirović heads over
As Stuttgart go probing for an equaliser, Tomás finds himself free down Basel's right hand side and after an exquisite bit of skill, creates space and whips in an excellent cross for Demirović, who heads the ball over unchallenged.
25'
vs
Play resumes
Karazor was warming up for Stuttgart, but Stiller returns to the pitch as play resumes.
23'
vs
Clash of heads
Play is currently halted with Stuttgart's Stiller and Basel's Leroy both down on the pitch receiving treatment after a nasty clash of heads.
18'
vs
Off the post!
This game is being played at full throttle. Down at the other end, Otele was unselfish and his pass found Agbonifo, whose effort comes back off Nübel's post.
15'
vs
Demirović offside
Bouanani is Stuttgart's creative outlet at the moment and his delicately lobbed pass finds Demirović, whose header forces a save from Hitz. The Bosnian was eventually flagged for offside, but he wasn't to know.
15'
vs
Basel charge forward
The hosts find themselves on the counter-attack but Schmid opts to take on the shot from distance himself which sails wide.
9'
vs
Stuttgart probe
Assignon has time to play in a cross, which is deflected and tipped over by Basel's Hitz. Stuttgart have responded well since going a goal behind.
3'
vs
Early lead
Assignon's wayward back pass is picked up by Ajeti, who shrugs off the opposing defender before slotting the ball under the onrushing Nübel.
1'
vs
Flying start!
Basel with the first attack of the game in the first minute, charging down Stuttgart's right. The ball is cut back to Agbonifo, but his shot is blocked superbly by Mittelstädt.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
1'
vs
We are under way
Stuttgart get the game under way, kicking off from left to right.
vs
Teams out
After draws for Freiburg and Mainz in Europe tonight, can Stuttgart go one better?
vs
Stuttgart subs
Bredlow, Vagnoman, Führich, El Khannouss, Karazor, Zagadou, Chabot, Catovic, Jovanović
vs
Basel starting line-up
Hitz - Vouilloz, Daniliuc, Adjetey, Schmid - Koindredi, Leroy - Agbonifo, Shaqiri (c), Otele - Ajeti