Ermedin Demirovic Shines with Hat-Trick as Stuttgart Beats Viking FK
Ermedin Demirovic chose quite a night to put on a finishing clinic.
On the 133rd anniversary of VfB Stuttgart’s founding, the Bosnian striker hit 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 exactly the kind of statement win they wanted.
Slow start, ruthless response
Stuttgart did not begin like a team ready to celebrate. They were cautious, almost hesitant, as Viking found early joy on the break and quietened the home crowd.
Then Demirovic arrived.
On 20 minutes, he darted into space and reacted first to a clever through ball from Angelo Stiller, stabbing the pass past the goalkeeper from close range. It was a poacher’s finish, simple on the eye, built on sharp movement and timing.
The lead barely had time to settle.
Just two minutes later, Viking hit back on the counter, Zlatko Tripic racing away and levelling to stun the stadium and remind Stuttgart that the Champions League will punish any lapse.
The response? Stuttgart doubled down on their main man.
A 12-minute treble
The pressure finally told as Demirovic and Deniz Undav began to pull Viking’s back line apart. Their understanding up front turned the match in a blistering 12-minute spell before half-time.
For his second, Demirovic met another move sparked by Undav, adjusted his body and lashed his finish into the roof of the net. Power, precision, no hesitation.
His third was all about composure. Again linking with Undav, Demirovic collected the ball inside the area, kept his head as defenders converged, and with calm footwork created the angle to roll home and complete a hat-trick that oozed authority.
Three chances. Three goals. Stuttgart, from edgy to emphatic in less than half an hour.
Star man, sober verdict
Afterwards, Demirovic allowed himself a brief smile at a dream European night, acknowledging both the perfect start and his own role in it.
“The win is a nice way to kick off the Champions League campaign,” he said. “We’ve picked up three points and I’m pleased about my three goals.”
He did not pretend it had been flawless. Viking, especially after the break, continued to threaten on the counter and forced Stuttgart to sprint back towards their own goal more often than Hoeness would have liked.
Demirovic echoed his coach’s call for sharper tactical discipline, particularly when possession was lost.
“We also know that we can do better in one or two situations and need to tighten up in our defensive transitions,” he admitted. “But on the whole, we achieved our objective for this evening.”
Work to do, but the striker is flying
Hoeness’ side managed the closing stages with maturity, keeping Viking at arm’s length even as Undav squandered late chances to add a fourth. The scoreline stayed at 3-1, but the sense of control grew as the clock ticked down.
The bigger picture is clear. Stuttgart have banked three vital points at home and, just as importantly, watched their leading forward announce himself as a serious force for the months ahead.
Demirovic’s clinical form now underpins Stuttgart’s ambitions on two fronts. If he keeps finishing like this as the league phase grows tougher and the domestic schedule bites harder, how far can this team really go?
