Demirovic Shines with Hat-Trick in Stuttgart's 133rd Anniversary Victory

Ermedin Demirovic chose Stuttgart’s birthday party to deliver the perfect gift.

On the night VfB Stuttgart marked the 133rd anniversary of their founding, the Bosnian striker produced a ruthless hat-trick to sink Viking FK 3-1 at the MHP Arena and launch Sebastian Hoeness’ side into the Champions League league phase with authority.

Slow start, ruthless response

Stuttgart did not begin like a team in a celebratory mood. The hosts looked hesitant, a touch cautious, as Viking pressed and probed for early nerves. The Bundesliga side needed a spark.

Demirovic supplied it in the 20th minute.

Angelo Stiller split the visitors’ back line with a clever ball, and Demirovic reacted like a striker in full rhythm, darting in and poking home from close range. The arena finally exhaled.

The relief lasted barely two minutes.

Caught on the counter, Stuttgart were sliced open as Zlatko Tripic finished off a rapid Viking break to level the match at 1-1. The Norwegian side suddenly carried menace with every transition, and the home crowd felt it.

That was as good as it got for the visitors.

Twelve minutes, three goals, one statement

The equaliser jolted Stuttgart. It also seemed to ignite Demirovic.

Linking up repeatedly with strike partner Deniz Undav, the 26-year-old tore through Viking’s defence in a devastating 12-minute spell before half-time.

First came power. Finding space in the box, Demirovic met a sharp Undav move and lashed his finish into the roof of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Then came composure. Again combining with Undav, he collected the ball under pressure inside the area, killed it with a velvet first touch, then picked his spot with icy calm to complete his hat-trick before the interval.

Three chances. Three goals. Clinical finishing of the highest order, just when Stuttgart needed it most.

Afterwards, Demirovic was clear about what the night meant to him: three points on the board, three goals to his name, and a Champions League campaign up and running exactly as planned.

Hoeness’ warning amid the celebrations

For all the fireworks in the first half, the second reminded Stuttgart they are far from the finished article.

Viking refused to fold. Their counters, especially after the break, exposed pockets of space and forced Stuttgart’s back line into urgent recoveries. There were anxious moments, the kind that can flip a European tie if taken.

Demirovic did not gloss over that reality. Echoing head coach Sebastian Hoeness, he admitted the team must sharpen their tactical discipline and, above all, tighten up during defensive transitions as the tournament wears on.

The message was clear: enjoy the win, but understand the standard required from here.

A forward line in form, and bigger tests ahead

Stuttgart still managed the closing stages with maturity. Hoeness’ men slowed the tempo, kept Viking at arm’s length and saw the game out without real drama, even if the scoreline could have been heavier.

Undav, heavily involved in Demirovic’s treble, passed up late chances to add his own name to the scoresheet. The missed opportunities did little to change the mood, though. The partnership up front looked dangerous, inventive, and already well-tuned.

Most importantly, Demirovic’s ruthless form gives Stuttgart exactly what every European hopeful craves: a striker who can turn half-chances into headlines.

With the first hurdle cleared and three points secured on home soil, Stuttgart now move into the heart of the league phase knowing the opposition will only grow stronger. The question is no longer whether they have a finisher for the big stage.

It’s whether the rest of the team can match his level when the real storms arrive.