Bundesliga
Stuttgart humbled in Belgrade
VfB Stuttgart have work to do in the UEFA Champions League after letting slip a 1-0 lead in a heavy defeat to Serbia's Red Star Belgrade.
Red Star Belgrade 5-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Demirović 5' (assist: Millot), 1-1 Silas 12' (assist: Seol), 2-1 Krunić 31', 3-1 Ivanić 65' (assist: Elšnik), 4-1 Radonjić 69' (assist: Krunić), 5-1 Radonjić 88' (assist: Elšnik)
With four points from their first four games in the new-format league phase, including a notable 1-0 win away to Juventus, Stuttgart justified their pre-match favourites tag by taking an early lead against winless Red Star. Ermedin Demirović got the goal with a fine finish from outside the area, but the Bosnia-Herzegovina international's strike proved a false dawn for last season's Bundesliga runners-up. Stuttgart loanee forward Silas levelled with a fine run and finish and, after Demirović had an effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review, Red Star's Rade Krunić fired in from inside the box to turn the game on its head.
Stuttgart were indebted to Alexander Nübel for keeping the scoreline down in the early stages of the second half as he thwarted Silas, Cherif Ndiaye and Mirko Ivanić, but the Germany goalkeeper's resistance wasn't to last. Ivanić headed in unmarked from a corner, before fellow substitute Nemanja Radonjić added a fourth on the counter with over 20 minutes still to play. That quick one-two knocked the stuffing out of Stuttgart, though there was still time for Radonjić to add salt into the wound with his second goal of the night late on. VfB now find themselves a point outside the knockout phase elimination play-offs ahead of fixtures against Young Boys, Slovan Bratislava and Paris Saint-Germain.
Match stats
- This is Stuttgart's sixth season of Champions League football. They are bidding to reach the knockouts for the third time.
- Demirović scored his first Champions League goal.
- Silas contributed five goals and five assists to Stuttgart's surprise runners-up finish in last season's Bundesliga.
- Sebastian Hoeneß had just guided Bayern Munich's reserves to the 3. Liga title the last time a German team won the Champions League - the Bayern seniors - in 2019/20.
- VfB had faced Serbian opposition only once before, beating Partizan Belgrade 2-0 in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup groups.
- Red Star had lost all four of their previous Champions League meetings with German clubs, going down to Bayern and RB Leipzig by an aggregate score of 14-2.
Teams
Red Star: Guteša - Mimović, Djiga, Spajić (c), Seol - Elšnik, Krunić (Dalcio 78') - Silas (Kanga 77'), Maksimović (Ivanić 59'), Milson (Radonjić 67') - Ndiaye (Bruno Duarte 67')
Unused subs: Ilić, Draškić, Katai, Rodić, Leković, Drkušić
Out: Olayinka (achilles)
Coach: Vladan Milojević
Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel (Rieder 46'), Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller - Vagnoman (Stergiou 76'), Millot (Malanga 76'), Führich - Demirović
Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Keitel, Krätzig, Kastanaras, Boakye, Chase
Out: Al-Dakhil (ill), Leweling (hamstring), Raimund (thigh), Touré (foot), Undav (thigh), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
5 - 1(2 - 1)
Red Star
FINAL
Stuttgart
90' +4
vs
Denied twice
Rieder's corner and then his cross into the box in the aftermath both find a Red Star head and are dealt with by the home side.
90' +1
vs
Added time
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of the game.
88'
vs
Radonjić has two
The hosts' latest goal comes from another counter. The Red Star attackers work it across the box to substitute Randonjić, who dummies shooting on his right before cutting inside and firing the ball into the bottom-left corner from the right side of the penalty area.
84'
vs
Benjamin Boakye
Chris Führich
84'
vs
Yannik Keitel
Angelo Stiller
83'
vs
It just won't fall
The ball is tending to get away from the Stuttgart players just are they are shaping to shoot. On this occasion, neither Demirović nor Malanga is able to get a shot away and the ball is eventually cleared.
78'
vs
First opportunity for Malanga
Demirović lays it off to the 18-year-old on the edge of the box, but the area is crowded with Red Star defenders and Malanga is unable to get it out of his feet before he is dispossessed.
77'
vs
Guelor Kanga
Rade Krunić
77'
vs
Dalcio Gomes
Silas Katompa Mvumpa
76'
vs
Leonidas Stergiou
Josha Vagnoman
76'
vs
Jarzinho Malanga
Enzo Millot
73'
vs
Scratching heads
After a positive start to the second half, Stuttgart shipped two goals in quick succession and now find themselves trailing Red Star by three. Conceding from a set-piece and a counter-attack in the second half, Stuttgart will be wondering how they have let it slip from being in such a promising position.
69'
vs
Goal with his first touch
Red Star score on the counter. Substitute Radonjić, who has only just come on the pitch, races through on goal and guides it past Nübel with a curling right-footed finish as the hosts score their fourth of the evening.
67'
vs
Bruno Duarte
Cherif Ndiaye
67'
vs
Nemanja Radonjić
Milson
65'
vs
Two goals to the good
A in-swinging cross from a corner sails all the way to the back post and finds the unmarked Ivanić, who heads it past Nübel to make it 3-1 to the hosts.
64'
vs
Nübel denies Ivanić
Red Star get their latest opportunity on the counter. Silas plays it over the top to substitute Ivanić, but Nübel stays big and gets behind the eventual effort as the ball goes out for a corner.
63'
vs
Well over
Nübel saves an initial Red Star effort but parries it into the path of Silas, whose shot on the half-volley goes well over the goal.
61'
vs
No final touch
Demirović meets a cross at the back post and heads it back into the middle. The ball is begging to be turned home by a Stuttgart player, but it can only find a Red Star defender who is then able to clear.
59'
vs
Not far off
Centre-back Chabot tries his luck with a fiery left-footed effort from long range. The ball narrowly whistles past the target and goes out for a goal kick. That would have been some way for Chabot to score his maiden Stuttgart goal!
58'
vs
Mirko Ivanić
Andrija Maksimović
58'
vs
Fantastic from Nübel
Ndiaye is through one-on-one on the Suttgart goal and attempts to round the Germany international. However, Nübel times his tackle well to dispossess the attacker and keep his side in the game.
57'
vs
Stuttgart know their task
Red Star are now sitting back, looking for opportunities to counter. The visitors will need to be inventive in order to find a way through the deep-lying defence.
53'
vs
Into the book
The Red Star goalscorer goes studs up into Stiller and receives a yellow card.
53'
vs
Rade Krunić
52'
vs
Counter chance goes begging
Red Star break immediately following Rieder's free-kick, with the final pass played to Silas on the right side of the penalty area. However, Nübel is equal to the winger's driven shot, meaning it remains a one-goal game.
51'
vs
Promising position
A foul on Rieder sees Stuttgart awarded a free-kick approximately 25 yards out from goal, and in a central position. The Swiss steps up to take the set-piece, but only finds the defensive wall.
49'
vs
Couple of half-chances
Stuttgart are demonstrating their attacking intent in the second half. First, Vagnoman drives into the box before shooting, although his effort is unfortunately blocked by teammate Demirović. Stuttgart recycle the ball, and moments later Demirović is involved again, playing through Millot on the left side of the penalty box before the latest Stuttgart effort is blocked by a Red Star defender.
46'
vs
One change at the break
Rieder has replaced Stenzel as the second half kicks off. This change will see Vagnoman shuffle in at right-back as Rieder lines up on the right wing.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
46'
vs
Fabian Rieder
Pascal Stenzel
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +2
vs
Two quick yellows
Two bad challenges from the Red Star pair see them both go into the book in the final stages of the first half.
45' +2
vs
Cherif Ndiaye
45' +1
vs
Stoppage time
There will be a minimum of four added minutes.
45'
vs
Andrija Maskismović
42'
vs
Chance for Millot
The midfielder is played through down the left side of the box via a nice chipped pass, but Millot doesn't strike the ball cleanly and his left-footed shot sails over the frame.
39'
vs
Penalty claims waived away
Mittelstädt feints right after entering the box, and goes down under the challenge of a Red Star defender. The referee decides not to award the penalty on the field, and a VAR check concurs.
35'
vs
Corner for the visitors
Stuttgart get forward for the first time since going behind. A cross into the box is cleared as far as Stiller, whose long-range effort is deflected behind for a corner, which is played short but ultimately leads to nothing.
31'
vs
Hosts lead
A cross into the box finds its way through to the unmarked Krunić, who takes a touch before sending the ball into the top-left corner with a left-footed half-volley from 12 yards out, putting Red Star in front.
28'
vs
Demirović millimetres offside
The Bosnia international is played in behind, charges through on goal and tucks the ball away into the bottom-left corner. However, the linesman's flag goes up once the ball is in the net, and the offside is confirmed by a VAR check.
27'
vs
Going long
A couple of long balls evade Demirović who was looking to get in behind. Stuttgart are showing their adaptability as they search for a way to break down their hosts.
24'
vs
Millot down
After clashing heads with a Red Star player, the Frenchman has stayed down. The referee pauses the game briefly to check all is okay, and now the game can continue.
21'
vs
Pulsating opening quarter
Both sides are already on the scoresheet in what has been a physical and fast-paced opening 20 minutes or so. Stuttgart are seeing more of the ball, but will need to do a bit more in order to fashion a few more chances.
17'
vs
Rouault gets back
A ball over the top picks out Red Star striker Ndiaye, who heads towards goal, but fortunately for the visitors, centre-back Rouault is on hand to nudge the attacker off the ball as it rolls safely into Nübel's gloves.
16'
vs
Reaction needed
Stuttgart's bright start has been cancelled out by that Red Star bolt from the blue. With still plenty of time to play, Sebastian Hoeneß will be hoping his side can recollect and get their lead back.