Bundesliga
Bouanani off the mark against Vigo
Badredine Bouanani scored his first VfB Stuttgart goal as the DFB Cup holders got the better of Spain's Celta Vigo in their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League opener.
VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Celta Vigo
Goals: 1-0 Bouanani 51' (assist: Nübel), 2-0 El Khannouss 68' (assist: Stiller), 2-1 Borga Iglesias 86' (assist: Moriba)
After surviving an early scare when Celta's Iago Aspas failed to make more of Alexander Nübel's misplaced pass, shooting wide of the half-empty net from 30 yards, Stuttgart assumed complete control.
Chema Andrés forced a strong save from Ionuț Radu, but Jamie Leweling could not land the follow-up on target. The Celta goalkeeper also had to be at his best to stop Lorenz Assignon breaking the deadlock with a shot from range.
Stuttgart deservedly forged ahead after the restart when Bouanani collected Nübel's long punt before racing in behind the Vigo defence and chipping the on-rushing Radu from the edge of the area.
Leicester City loanee Bilal El Khannouss added what proved to be the decisive goal with a fine finish from a similar position to double VfB's lead, with ex-Bayer Leverkusen forward Borja Iglesias' late effort to halve the deficit a mere consolation.
Stuttgart visit Switzerland's Basel, who lost to Freiburg on Matchday 1, in their next Europa League fixture on 2 October.
>>> See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures here
Recap the match action against Celta Vigo below...
2 - 1(0 - 0)
Stuttgart
FINAL
Vigo
90' +3
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Almost an equaliser!
A long ball forward from the Celta goalkeeper catches out the Stuttgart defence, giving on-loan Bayern Munich winger Zaragoza a chance. He pokes the ball past Nübel but the it rolls wide of the post.
90' +1
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Added time
We're into the first of four minutes of stoppage time.
88'
vs
Game on!
Karazor wants too long on the ball deep inside his own half and Moriba nips in to snatch possession. Stuttgart's defence is wide open and when the ball is played forward to Iglesias, he rifles it past Nübel.
83'
vs
Over from Demirović
Stiller delivers a curling, out-swinging corner from the left into the penalty area. He finds the head of Demirović, but the forward is under pressure and his effort goes over.
80'
vs
Chris Führich
Badredine Bouanani
80'
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Josha Vagnoman
Jamie Leweling
78'
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Chance for Celta!
Stuttgart ride their luck a bit here. The home side struggle to clear a corner and the ball falls kindly for Rueda around 12 yards out, but his shot is always rising and it goes well over.
73'
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Leweling has a go
The winger almost catches everyone out with an opportunistic shot with his left foot, but he drags it just wide.
70'
vs
Atakan Karazor
Chema Andrés
70'
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Tiago Tomás
Bilal El Khannouss
67'
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Opening for VfB
Stiller slices open the Celta defence for Mittelstädt to scamper to the byline. His attempted cut-back takes a deflection and bounces across the face of goal, but nobody is there to tuck it away.
64'
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Offside call
Celta get forward well again and for a moment it looks like they've got behind Stuttgart's defence, but they're pulled back for offside.
60'
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Rare opportunity
All of a sudden, Celta have some space to attack. They work it forward and over to the right for El-Abdelaoui, who shows some nifty footwork as he tries to jink past Hendriks, but the defender snuffs out the danger.
57'
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Hosts bossing it
Not content to have the lead, VfB are continuing to push forward as they go in search of a second goal.
49'
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Wayward
Germany international Jamie Leweling has a crack from distance, but doesn't catch it right. He won't want to see the replay of that one.
46'
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No changes
Hoeneß has resisted the urge to tinker. Celta are also unchanged.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
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Flag's up
Demirović is flagged for offside after landing a presentable header onto the roof of the net.
42'
vs
Right idea
Stiller tries to beat the Celta defence with a clipped ball into the box for the run of Mittelstädt, but Rodriguez clears it to safety.
39'
vs
Fierce hit!
It's Assignon again who looks like Stuttgart's best bet for a breakthrough He hammers one goalwards from range, forcing Radu into evasive action.
37'
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Warning shot
Celta break out with Jutgla, who flashes an effort just past the upright from outside of the Stuttgart area. That was travelling!
35'
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Caution
Demirović goes into the book after catching the leg of former Leipzig man Ilaix Moriba.
35'
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Ermedin Demirović
30'
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No takers
Another Stuttgart corner comes to nothing as El Khannouss lifts a cross into the arms of Radu in the Celta goal.
25'
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Injury
Finn Jeltsch's night is up. He landed very awkwardly following a challenge with Ferran Jutgla. Luca Jaquez is on at the back for Stuttgart.
25'
vs
Luca Jaquez
Finn Jeltsch
21'
vs
Big claim
Vigo still don't have a grip on Stuttgart's wide players as Radu comes to claim a teasing cross, with plenty of white shirts lurking.
18'
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Danger area
Assignon and Chema are full of running up and down the Stuttgart right. If VfB are going to score, it seems like that'll be the source.
13'
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All Stuttgart
The home side are bossing the play now. They've got Celta hemmed in their own half...
9'
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Close!
Stuttgart come again, using the flanks to great effect. Assignon swings a ball in towards Chema, whose header is beaten away by the goalkeeper. Jamie Leweling attacks the rebound, firing over.
6'
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Half chance
Stuttgart attack for the first time and win a corner that's only half cleared. Chema takes it on from 15 yards, but his attempt trickles wide.
3'
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Nervy moment
Alex Nübel miscues his attempted kick straight to Celta's Iago. He tries to land the loose ball into the half-open net, but fires over. Relief for VfB's goalkeeper!
1'
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Under way!
The ball's rolling at an expectant Mercedes-Benz Arena.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Kick-off is nigh
The players are ready to rock in Stuttgart. Scotland's Nicholas Walsh is the man in the middle...
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Stat attack
Vigo beat Stuttgart in the home leg of their 2000/01 UEFA Cup last-16 tie, but their overall record against teams from Germany favours VfB: W1, D2, L2. Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt are the only other Bundesliga clubs they've faced in UEFA competition.
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Strong start
It's early days, but Bundesliga sides are unbeaten in this season's league phase. Bayern and Frankfurt won in the Champions League last week, with Dortmund and Leverkusen drawing their openers, before Freiburg edged Basel in the Europa League last night. Mainz, who lost away but beat Rosenborg at home in the Conference League play-offs, face Omonoia in the competition proper next week.
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Stuttgart subs
Bredlow, Vagnoman, Tomás,, Führich, Jaquez, Karazor, Zagadou, Chabot, Catovic, Jovanović
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Celta starting XI
Rado - Rodríguez, Starfelt, Alonso - Al-Abdellaoui, Moriba, Beltrán, Mingueza - Aspas, Durán, Jutglá
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Celta subs
Villar, Iglesias, Fernández, Rodriguez, Zaragoza, Román, Rueda, Swedberg, Sotelo, Álvarez, Dominguez, Lago
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Celta in Stuttgart
The visitors actually have an official peña - a fan club - in Germany, the Peña Celtista Die Himmelblauen. And they and the La Liga club have been "decorating" while getting to know Stuttgart...see above.