Ending runners-up to Bayer Leverkusen final season, VfB Stuttgart secured a return to European soccer. And tonight, they host a Champions League sport on the Neckarstadion for the primary time because the 2009/10 season. In Group G alongside Sevilla, Unirea Urziceni and Rangers again then, Stuttgart have been knocked out by Barcelona within the Spherical of 16.
Stuttgart greats resembling Sami Khedira, Alexander Hleb and Cacau performed of their final Champions League sport on the Neckarstadion, however tonight’s sport towards Sparta Prague provides a distinct sort of opposition within the newly reimagined event.
To qualify for the Spherical of 16, Stuttgart should end within the high eight or win their playoff sport ought to they end between ninth and twenty-fourth. Narrowly dropping out to Actual Madrid of their first sport after conceding within the 83rd and ninety fifth minutes, the Swabian facet can definitely be pleased with their efficiency on the Santiago Bernabeu. However now it’s time to make sure they decide up their first win on this yr’s version of the Champions League.
Talking in Monday’s press convention, Sebastian Hoeneß commented on the particular second as European soccer returns to Stuttgart: “For us, the membership, town and the individuals right here, this dwelling sport is one thing particular. We need to take this sense into the sport.
“The gamers have been actually targeted in our closing coaching session, however additionally they had the correct quantity of playfulness too.”
Stuttgart deservedly completed second within the Bundesliga final season, one level forward of Bayern Munich. Serhou Guirassy scored 28 objectives and Deniz Undav netted 18 within the Bundesliga, however regardless of the sale of the previous, VfB have misplaced simply certainly one of their opening 5 video games.
What Hoeneß and Stuttgart have achieved on and off the pitch within the final 18 months is nothing in need of distinctive, and so they’re actually deserving Champions League soccer.
