Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart are hoping to earn their first points in the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League when they welcome Sparta Prague to the MHP Arena on Tuesday (kick-off: 6.45pm CEST).
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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
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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The Czech visitors suffered their first league defeat of the season at home to Sigma at the weekend (2-3). They are second in their domestic table but beat Salzburg 3-0 to make a good start to the Champions League.
Stuttgart have only won one of their last four in all competitions, but that run includes the trip to Real Madrid and drawing 2-2 at Wolfsburg on Saturday when down to ten men. Their last home match was a stunning 5-1 success over last season's UEFA Champions League finalists, Borussia Dortmund.
The Stuttgart striker levelled in Madrid before late goals for the hosts made for a 3-1 defeat. He has four goals already in the Bundesliga this season.
Stuttgart's last home tie in the competition over 14 years ago saw Cacau open the scoring as the hosts took a very decent 1-1 draw against a legendary Barcelona side (before losing the second leg of their last 16 tie, 0-4). There will be no Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry and Ibrahimović in the Sparta Prague ranks this week.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of VfB Stuttgart's second UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Czech champions Sparta Prague on Tuesday.