It could be a kind of final in the Champions League for VfB Stuttgart: in Bratislava it’s about maintaining the chance of reaching the playoffs.
For VfB Stuttgart, it’s about the best possible prospect of progressing in the Champions League. On Tuesday (9:00 p.m./live in the Sportschau audio stream) there is a victory at Outsiders Slovan Bratislava possibly mandatory for the chance of making it to the playoffs. “We know how important the three points can be for us. If we want to continue playing in the Champions League, I think we have to get the three points,” said VfB striker Ermedin Demirovic.
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß looked ahead to the landmark game in a similar way: “The Champions League is a great journey for us, which we want to extend. A lot of decisions are made over the head.” The game, the coach continued, felt “a bit” like a final. “The top priority is every game that is in front of us. But in this case, I think that is even clearer than usual.”
VfB Stuttgart sees itself in “top condition”
On Monday morning, the VfB entourage met at Stuttgart Airport for the approximately one and a half hour journey to the wintery Slovakian capital. The performance at the Narodny futbalovy stadium three days after the 4-0 win against SC Freiburg is the penultimate in the final stretch of the Champions League league phase. “We have trained for this all our lives, worked hard to have these nights, these stressful weeks. We are in really top condition, everyone can go there with a big chest,” said Demirovic confidently.
The runner-up has a big chest with a brilliant start and the maximum possible number of nine points from three games to restart the Bundesliga earned. In the Bundesliga table, the Swabians have made a strong move up to a Champions League place (4th) and, in fourth place, are one of the first pursuers of the top clubs FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen.
VfB now wants to continue its run internationally. However, a guarantee of success like Nick Woltemade is not registered for the premier class either Winter transfer Jacob Bruun Larsen. A slip-up in Bratislava would be a major setback even without the players not being allowed to play.
“We have to deliver,” said sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth. It’s all about the right mix of relaxedness, friendliness and tension, said the 45-year-old, who only reluctantly remembers the completely unsuccessful trip to Belgrade.
Similar requirements as before the Belgrade trip
Bratislava is one of three Champions League participants still without a point. The champions and league leaders of the still-paused Slovakian league have lost all six games and have already been eliminated. The conditions are somewhat similar to those of the trip to Serbia. As before the encounter in Belgrade, VfB is now the favorite. But the game back then went terribly wrong. Belgrade was also without a point at the end of November until VfB arrived experienced a 1:5 debacle.
“It was an extreme experience. A good experience from which hopefully everyone learned lessons,” said Wohlgemuth about the cauldron in Belgrade. Thanks to of the 5-1 win against Bern in mid-December VfB is only two places behind the dividing line for progress.
Even top clubs are worried about progress
As 26th in the table, the Swabians are currently one point short of being able to play for a place in the round of 16 in two playoff games of the reformed Champions League in February. An early exit without European Cup evenings beyond the league phase would be a disappointment despite the long absence from the international stage.
Paris Saint-Germain – tied on points with VfB – is also worried about progressing. The French champions will face the struggling English champion Manchester City, who have not yet qualified for the knockout round, on Wednesday. On Wednesday of next week (January 29th, 9 p.m.) VfB wants to have a magical evening against Paris.
Broadcast on Monday, January 20, 2025, 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
