Bundesliga
No Turkish delight for Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart were edged out in Istanbul by Fenerbahçe courtesy of a converted first-half penalty as they suffered a second consecutive league phase defeat on Matchday 3 of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League.
Fenerbahçe 1-0 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Aktürkoğlu 34‘ (pen.)
The Swabians started brightly, frequently putting Domenico Tedesco’s Fenerbahçe under pressure in the early phases. However, a Bilal El Khannouss foul on Edson Álvarez ignited the hosts into life and laid the foundations for a very physical encounter.
Alexander Nübel was repeatedly tested but Stuttgart’s custodian came up trumps each time. That was until Angelo Stiller brought down Milan Škriniar in the area, earning the hosts a spot-kick which Kerem Aktürkoğlu dispatched into the bottom right corner.
The second half showed no signs of reducing the frantic tempo at which the first was played. At the hour-mark, Fenerbahçe thought they had been awarded another penalty after Luca Jaquez brought down Nene in the box, before it was overturned by the VAR.
Minutes later, the same thing happened up the other end, with the spot-kick awarded for Álvarez’s apparent foul on Stiller likewise being chalked off retrospectively.
Stuttgart pushed for an equaliser, coming closest through substitute Deniz Undav late on, whose effort from inside the box flashed just wide of the post. But ultimately, the Swabians had to accept a second consecutive Europa League defeat.
Sebastian Hoeneß' side are back in Europa League action on 6 November when they welcome Dutch side Feyenoord to the MHP Arena on Matchday 4.
>>> See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures here
Recap the match action against Fenerbahçe below...
1 - 0(1 - 0)
Fenerbahce
FINAL
Stuttgart
90' +8
vs
İsmail Yüksek
90' +8
vs
Deniz Undav
90' +5
Corner for Fenerbahçe
The hosts are happy to bide their time as they await the final whistle. Durán finds himself in possession of the ball before winning a corner which results to nothing.
90' +3
Long from Stuttgart
It's long from Nübel but it's easily cleared by Škriniar. Time is running out for the Bundesliga club.
90' +1
Stoppage time
The fourth official has indicated a further seven minutes.
89'
Corner for Stuttgart
It's again played short from Stuttgart which is eventually played in from deep, but it's cleared comfortably by Fenerbahçe.
89'
vs
Jhon Durán
87'
vs
Talisca
Kerem Aktürkoğlu
87'
vs
Jhon Durán
Youssef En-Nesyri
86'
vs
Chris Führich
Tiago Tomás
86'
vs
Finn Jeltsch
Luca Jaquez
82'
vs
Jayden Oosterwolde
82'
vs
Sebastian Szymański
Marco Asensio
82'
Clear cut chance!
Leweling finds himself in plenty of space. Driving forward, he finds El Khannouss who in turn pulls the ball back for Undav, who pulls his shot wide of Ederson's post.
80'
vs
Oğuz Aydın
Nene Dorgeles
77'
Double change
Hoeneß makes a double change as Stuttgart go in search of an equaliser, with Leweling and Nartey replacing Karazor and Hendriks.
77'
vs
Jamie Leweling
Ramon Hendriks
77'
vs
Nikolas Nartey
Atakan Karazor
70'
Final 20
We're into the final 20 minutes here as Stuttgart go in search of an equaliser.
65'
No penalty for Stuttgart
Stuttgart again enjoy a spell of possession down their left. The ball is fired in by El Khannouss which finds Stiller, who goes down under the challenge of Álvarez. After a short stoppage and consultation with the VAR, it's another overturned decision.
63'
vs
Deniz Undav
Badredine Bouanani
63'
Penalty overturned
A crazy couple of minutes as Nene goes down following a nudge from Jaquez, which results in a second penalty, but it's overturned after the VAR judged the Fenerbahçe attacker to be offside in the build-up.
52'
Karazor over!
It's down Stuttgart's left again where the Bundesliga club are getting a lot of joy. This time Mittelstädt combines with Hendriks who finds Karazor, but his effort flies over.
49'
High intensity start
It's straight down the other end of the pitch as Aktürkoğlu sees his effort blocked before firing the rebound wide.
48'
Chance for Stuttgart
Stuttgart have shown composure on the ball all evening and it results in a chance early in the second half. El Khannouss and Mittelstädt combine which results in the Stuttgart man finding Bouanani unmarked inside the area, but his effort is blocked.
46'
Back underway
Stuttgart get the ball rolling as they chase an equaliser.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
34'
Stuttgart concede a penalty
From an Aktürkoğlu corner, Stiller pulls on the shirt of Škriniar which is caught immediately by the referee, who points to the spot.
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +6
En-Nesyri from range
The Moroccan tries his luck from distance with a powerful effort that is tipped wide by Nübel. The following corner is cleared by Stuttgart.
45' +4
vs
Nélson Semedo
45' +4
Stuttgart probe
The visitors enjoy an extended spell of possession which ends in Stiller firing over from distance with his weaker right foot.
45' +1
Added time
The fourth official has signalled six minutes of stoppage time.
39'
Corner for Stuttgart
As Stuttgart look for an equaliser, Luca Jaquez heads just wide from a corner.
34'
Fenerbahçe lead
After a brief stoppage, Aktürkoğlu steps up to take the resulting penalty which is fired into the bottom corner past Nübel, who dives to the right.
31'
vs
Angelo Stiller
27'
vs
Edson Álvarez
21'
vs
Bilal El Khannouss
30'
Mittelstädt volley
The ball is played in by Assignon from a deep position which is met by the head of Chabot. Brown is only able to clear the ball as far as Mittelstädt who tests Ederson with a volley from a tight angle.
27'
Chances at both ends
Almost immediately, Asensio tries his luck for a second time this evening which forces Nübel into another save.
24'
First chance for Stuttgart
The visitors press Ederson which forces the Brazilian to play it long which is collected by Stuttgart. Bouanani links up with El Khannouss who tries his luck from distance, but his effort is saved.
21'
Another opening!
Stuttgart lose the ball in midfield which is gathered by Yüksek, who plays the ball into the channel for En-Nesyri. The Moroccan forward advances with the ball before firing a shot that stings the palms of Nübel.
14'
Nübel saves
Stuttgart play a short corner but are caught sleeping which allows Nene to nip in and initiate a counter-attack, resulting in the Fenerbahçe forward dribbling the full length of the pitch before forcing Nübel into an easy save.
12'
Another chance
Hendriks can only clear the ball as far as Asensio, who fires his shot over Nübel's bar from range.
11'
First chance for Fenerbahçe
Stuttgart lose the ball in their own defensive third which is picked up by Nene, whose cross finds the head of Aktürkoğlu but the Fenerbahçe attacker is unable to generate any kind of power.
7'
High intensity from Stuttgart
Stuttgart are playing without fear, pressing Fenerbahçe high up the pitch and forcing the hosts to turn over possession with an aimless long ball.
4'
Free-kick for Fenerbahçe
Chabot collides with Brown from the resulting corner, and a free-kick is awarded to the hosts after a brief stoppage in play while the player receives treatment.
3'
Early corner for Stuttgart
Tomás finds himself in an excellent position centrally before playing the ball wide to Mittelstädt, who wins an early corner for the visitors.
1'
We're underway
Fenerbahçe get the ball rolling in Istanbul.