Stuttgart travel to Slovakia to face Slovan Bratislava on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League, in search of a successive victory in the competition after overcoming Norwegian outfit Viking 3-1 on Matchday 1.
Strong record for Stuttgart and an opponent down on form
Stuttgart – who are coming into this game on the back of a 2-0 win over Paderborn – have faced Slovan Bratislava three times before and remain undefeated. In January 2025, VfB beat their Wednesday opponents 3-1. Slovan Bratislava – coached by Yaya Toure – are struggling this season and playing catch-up in the Slovakian league, where they currently sit fourth in a league they’ve won eight years in a row. Additionally, the Slovakian side were hammered 6-1 by PSG on MD1, and have a point to prove.
Toure made history by becoming the first African coach on the biggest European stage. His debut game was far from ideal, but he hopes to get his side back on track against the Bundesliga representatives. However, it will still be a tough task for his side against an opposition that has become a Champions League regular in recent years. What’s more, Bratislava have lost ten consecutive Champions League matches, which also doesn’t bode well for Toure’s team.
Stuttgart will be without Maximilian Mittelstädt, who suffered a laceration to his right heel in the win against Paderborn. He needed stitches after the game, and the club announced he will be out for the time being, but the team is expected to come out on top in this encounter.
Solid coaching
Sebastian Hoeneß is currently the longest-serving coach in the German top flight (in office since April 2023). He has brought stability, a DFB Pokal trophy and regular Champions League football to a club that was fighting relegation when he took over. Now his side will be looking to make an impact in the this season’s Champions League by navigating past the league phase and into the knockout rounds for the first time since the 2009/10 season.
He will also will be hoping the win against Paderborn will help the team in their UCL game. Following VfB’s 2-0 win at the weekend, he stated: “We’re happy with the result and delighted to have picked up all three points.” He also pointed the need to improve upfront saying: “We need to make better decisions in the final third. Above all, I want to praise the entire team for their defensive performance,” he explained.
In a stadium that is labelled one of the “greenest arenas” in Europe, two sides in different form will battle for three points in Europe’s premier competition.