Demirovic the star as Stuttgart stroll to victory vs Viking | OneFootball

On the club’s 133rd birthday, VfB Stuttgart returned to Champions League action on home soil, looking to start their campaign with three points against Norwegian champions Viking FK.

Sebastian Hoeneß’s side were also looking to learn from their previous Champions League campaign, when costly results in matches they were the favourites ultimately resulted in elimination.

However, it was Viking who provided the early threat. Kristoffer Askildsen saw an effort blocked before Henrik Bjørdal met the resulting short corner with a header, which was comfortably gathered by Fabian Bredlow in the 11th minute.

The visitors went close again six minutes later after a sloppy giveaway from Angelo Stiller allowed Peter Christiansen to break in behind before finding Askildsen, whose low effort was safely held by Bredlow.

Stuttgart had struggled to trouble Arild Østbø during the opening 20 minutes, but remarkably, their first effort of the evening produced the breakthrough.

Chris Führich found Stiller, whose ball across the penalty area reached Ermedin Demirovic, and the Bosnian made no mistake as he lifted his finish in off the underside of the crossbar to give Stuttgart the lead.

Yet the hosts’ advantage did not last long.

Stuttgart were caught badly out of shape after Bilal El Khannouss lost possession, with Jeff Chabot caught high up the pitch as Viking broke forward. Bjørdal found captain Zlatko Tripic in space, and the 33-year-old made no mistake with a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Hoeneß’s side responded in emphatic fashion.

Just five minutes later, Deniz Undav produced a superb defence-splitting pass to release Demirovic, who was played onside by Kristoffer Haugen before once again finding the net via the underside of the crossbar.

And with the hosts suddenly in complete control, Demirovic completed a remarkable hat-trick only six minutes later.

Hoeneß's side patiently recycled possession around the Viking penalty area before Undav poked the ball into the path of his strike partner. 

Demirovic controlled before volleying towards goal, and although Østbø got a strong hand to the effort, he could not prevent it from bouncing over the line.

A lengthy VAR check followed for a possible handball against Demirovic, but the goal was eventually allowed to stand, completing the striker’s hat-trick and putting Stuttgart 3-1 ahead after a frantic opening 34 minutes.

In the second half, all VfB had to do was stay professional, as the visitors tested their resolve in the opening minutes. 

Viking threatened Bredlow's goal on multiple occasions, with Bjørdal, top scorer Peter Christiansen, and Henrik Heggheim sending efforts towards the Unturtürkheimer Kurve in the first 10 minutes of the second half. 

As was the case against Köln on Friday, Stuttgart found themselves needing to wrestle back control, with Die Schwaben far from comfortable despite holding a two-goal lead. 

Slowing the game down, Hoeneß looked to the bench to bring on Dzenan Pejcinovic and Josha Vagnoman, who replaced hat-trick hero Demirovic and Jamie Leweling respectively.

The visitors had their chances, but ultimately couldn't muster anything big enough to trouble Bredlow. 

At the same time, Stuttgart looked to wind down the clock and hold onto the two-goal lead - something that could prove pivotal come January, with goal difference playing a huge role in each of the last two European campaigns.

Skipper Undav would come close to extending this in the 87th minute, as a left-footed effort flew just over the bar following a neat layoff from summer signing Leo Sauer. 

Moments later, Grischa Prömel would also let fly, this time from the edge of the box. However, the Cannstatt local saw his driven effort whistle past the post.

After some difficult moments in the second half, VfB had finally gained control against an ever-tiring Viking side, with exciting youngster Sauer seeing an effort fly into the Cannstatter Kurve in the 91st minute.

They were troubled at times, but Stuttgart ultimately saw out the game after Undav struck the post in the final seconds, and put a big three points on the board in the Champions League. 

Now, Hoeneß's side turns their attention to the short trip to Hoffenheim on Saturday, while their next Champions League outing comes against Slovan Bratislava on 14 October.