Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart fell agonisingly short of progression to the UEFA Champions League last 16 play-offs following a 4-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and unfavourable results elsewhere.
VfB Stuttgart 1-4 Paris Saint-Germain
Goals: 0-1 Barcola 6' (assist: Doué), 0-2 Dembélé 17' (assist: Barcola), 0-3 Dembélé 35' (assist: Neves), 0-4 Dembélé 54' (assist: Hakimi), 1-4 Pacho 77' (own goal)
Stuttgart knew a positive result at home to the Ligue 1 champions would secure their place in the play-off round, but they never really got going. They were down within six minutes as Bradley Barcola headed home Désiré Doué's flick-on from a corner while unmarked at the back post. Had Chris Führich's effort shortly after not been fantastically pushed to safety by Gianluigi Donnarumma, the night may have panned out differently, yet seconds after that intervention PSG were two to the good when Ousmane Dembélé finished off a lightining-quick counter-attack. While Fabian Bredlow produced a stunning stop of his own to stop Doué from extending the advantage further, there was nothing he could do to keep out Dembélé's fierce strike from a tight angle as the Parisians went into the break with the victory all but secured.
The Swabians returned from the interval with renewed vigour, but they were soon watching on when Dembélé netted for a third time, on this occasion linking up with fellow Dortmund alumni Achraf Hakimi before curling into the top corner. With little left on the line, both coaches rang the changes as they looked to avoid any injuries as the game approached its climax. Stuttgart did eventually have something to celebrate when ex-Eintracht Frankfurt defender Willian Pacho poked into his own net with less than 15 minutes remaining. Ermedin Demirović had a chance to reduce the deficit further, but hit the side netting as Stuttgart said goodbye to the tournament. This was a forgettable evening for Sebastian Hoeneß' men, yet they have made plenty of memories along the way, in particular the 1-0 victory over Juventus in Turin, and this experience is something they can use to fuel them for the remainder of the current season and beyond.
Teams
Stuttgart: Bredlow - Vagnoman (Stergiou 61'), Chabot, Al-Dakhil (Chase 71'), Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller (Rieder 71') - Leweling (Keitel 78'), Millot, Führich - Undav (Demirović 60')
Unused subs: Seimen, Stenzel, Malanga, Bujubi
Out: Diehl (hamstring), Nartey (knee), Nübel (ill), Raimund (thigh), Rouault (suspended), Touré (foot), Woltemade (ineligible), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
PSG: Donnarumma - Hakimi (Ruiz 71'), Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Hernández (Beraldo 71') - Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves - Dembélé, Doué (Lee 60'), Barcola (Ramos 71')
Unused subs: Sofonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Asensio, Muyulu, Tape
Out: Kvaratskhelia (ineligible), Mendes (suspended)
Coach: Luis Enrique
As it happened!
The South Korea international fires over the bar.
The substitute can't get his effort on target after breaking through.
The home crowd have at least seen their side score a goal, as Willian Pacho puts into his own net from a low cross.
With little now on the line, both sides are taking it a little easier as we approach this game's climax.
Stuttgart are heading out of the competition, but they will at least want to get on the scoresheet before doing so.
Hoeneß makes a couple of substitutions with the game surely lost.
Just as Stuttgart appeared to be building up a bit of steam, PSG strike what will surely be the decisive blow. It is Dembélé again, as he curls into the top corner from inside the box.
It may be a little late, but Stuttgart are showing plenty of intensity at the start of this second half.
Chabot can't direct his header towards goal and it instead sails past the post.
Dembélé has an early chance to complete his hat-trick. However, on this occasion he gets it wrong and it flies harmlessly wide of the post.
A chance for Stuttgart right at the death, as Millot puts into the side netting.
The home team are enjoying a rare spell of sustained possession as they look for a lifeline before the break.
The Parisians have been superb tonight, and Dembélé has a second, hammering an unstoppable shot across Bredlow and into the far corner. Stuttgart just don't have the answers right now.
A third PSG looks a certainty as Doué prepares to tap in at the back post. However, Bredlow someone keeps his shot out. What a save!
Bredlow reacts quickly to an underhit Vagnoman backpass to prevent PSG from coasting in for a third.
Stuttgart have looked dangerous when they have managed to get forward. They will need to continue to do so to get anything from this match.
Seconds after that Führich opportunity, the Parisians break down the other end and double their advantage as Barcola squares for Dembélé to tap into an empty net.
Stuttgart should be level! Leweling does brilliantly down the left to beat Hakimi before squaring to Führich, but his shot is fantastically stopped by Donnarumma.
A first break forward from Stuttgart, and Führich sees a shot saved by Donnarumma. He will feel he could have done better if he had initially carried on before checking his run, but it is a first real sign of life.
The Swabians have been unable to put Donnarumma under any real pressure so far.
The French champions socre from a corner, as Doué flicks on for Barcola to head home unmarked at the back post. Work for Stuttgart to do here.
The away team have seen the majority of the ball so far.
The match is underway!
The teams are on the pitch and raring to go!
Not long to go until this huge clash!
Should Stuttgart win tonight, they will have won consecutive Champions League matches for the first time since 2003/04, when they won three matches at their home ground on the trot.
Bredlow - Vagnoman, Chabot, Al-Dakhil, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller - Leweling, Millot, Führich - Undav
Seimen, Keitel, Demirović, Stenzel, Stergiou, Rieder, Chase, Malanga, Bujubi