Stuttgart host Sparta looking for first points

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Stuttgart were unfortunate to come away from the Santiago Bernabéu empty handed after outplaying holders Real Madrid for much of their European opener. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side were ultimately made to pay for not putting away their chances in a 3-1 reverse, and VfB have clearly learned their lesson since then. They swarmed over Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 4 in a 5-1 success, before Deniz Undav rescued a point for the Swabians in the 97th minute against Wolfsburg on Matchday 5. Undav and Ermedin Demirović have clicked up front with a combined eight Bundesliga goals between them so far, while France U21 international Enzo Millot has sparkled with three goals and two assists. Dan-Axel Zagadou is sidelined after sustaining a fresh knee injury, so Hoeneß is expected to keep Jeff Chabot and Anthony Rouault at centre-back. Josha Vagnoman has also been ruled out after sustaining a knock against Wolfsburg. Pascal Stenzel and Anrie Chase are the two contenders to replace him. Hoeneß also has Germany international Chris Führich up his sleeve further forward.

While Sparta may not carry the same hefty reputation as Real Madrid, they should not be underestimated. Head coach Lars Friis’s men have enjoyed a good start to the 2024/25 campaign and currently sit second in the Czech Chance Liga on 22 points after nine games. They did however lose 3-2 against Olomouc in their most recent league outing on Friday. Furthermore, they made it through three qualifying rounds to reach the league phase, where they stunned Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 on Matchday 1. Lukas Haraslin, Victor Olatunji and Veljko Birmancevic are the players to watch in attack, with a combined 16 goals among them already.

Watch: Highlights of Stuttgart's Matchday 5 trip to Wolfsburg

Match stats

• Undav is Stuttgart's top scorer this season, with six goals in eight competitive games.
  
• Former players Kevin Kurányi and Mario Gómez are Stuttgart's record scorers in the Champions League era, each on three goals.
• Stuttgart are one of five Bundesliga clubs in the revamped Champions League - no other league has more representatives this year.
• This is Stuttgart's sixth campaign of Champions League/ European Cup football. Their deepest run was to the 2009/10 round of 16.
• VfB have a positive record in meetings with Czech teams. They won and drew against Slavia Prague in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals, having won at home and lost away to Dukla Prague in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup.
• Sparta have faced German opposition 13 times before, losing to Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Schalke, but beating Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin.

Probable teams

Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Millot, Karazor (c), Stiller, Leweling - Undav, Demirović
Out: Diehl (shoulder), Vagnoman (knock), Zagadou (knee)
Doubtful: Nartey (knee), Stergiou (back)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Sparta: Vindahl-Jensen - Vitík, Panák (c), Zelený - Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Wiesner - Birmančević, Olatunji, Haraslín
Out: Cobbaut (unknown), Garía de Albéniz (knee), Sörensen (unknown)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Lars Friis

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