Stuttgart vs. Viking FK – News and Probable Lineups

Stuttgart makes its return to the Champions League after a year off, as they prepare to host Viking FK at MHPArena on Wednesday.

Last season, the home team participated in the Europa League, while their Norwegian rivals Viking FK were involved in the Conference League qualifiers.

Match overview

Finishing fourth in their last season’s campaign secured Stuttgart a spot at the high level of European football for the second time in consecutive years.

Die Roten have had a mixed start to the 2026-27 season, securing two wins and one loss from their first three matches. The single defeat was to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in their opening match.

Head coach Sebastian Hoeness will be pleased that his team has found the net nine times so far, even though they haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet. Notably, five of the seven goals conceded came from Bayern.

Stuttgart’s last outing in the Champions League wasn’t particularly memorable, as they were eliminated in the group stage during the 2024-25 season after finishing 26th, earning just 10 points, scoring 12 times, and allowing 19 goals.

During that Champions League campaign, the home side won only one out of four matches at MHPArena, whereas they are currently unbeaten in their last five matches at this venue across all competitions, with four wins recorded.

Viking FK comes into this fixture following a successful qualifying matchup against Dinamo Zagreb in August, where they triumphed with an aggregate score of 5-3.

Currently, the visitors sit second in the Eliteserien with 44 points from 19 matches, just three points behind the league leaders Bodo/Glimt.

Boss Morten Jensen will be the first manager to guide his team in the Champions League since 1992, marking a significant return as they have not reached the league or group stage of a European competition in the past 21 years.

De Morkebla are currently on an unbeaten streak across five matches in all competitions, having won three of those fixtures and netting a total of 11 goals.

Viking have only faced defeat once in their last seven away encounters, but they have settled for draws in three of those games.

Team News

Stuttgart will be missing several players, with up to seven absentees including centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou.

The home team might choose to deploy Finn Jeltsch, Jeff Chabot, and Maximilian Mittelstadt in a three-man defensive line, potentially shielded by a double pivot formed by Angelo Stiller and Grischa Promel.

Despite the injuries affecting his squad, Hoeness can count on Deniz Undav to play a pivotal role in the attack.

Viking is expected to maintain a similar starting lineup from their second leg against Dinamo Zagreb, with Gianni Stensness and Jesper Daland likely anchoring the defense.

Joe Bell could take up the midfield role, while striker Peter Christiansen may be supported by wingers Zlatko Tripic and Amin Cosic.

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Bredlow; Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Vagnoman, Promel, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, El Khannouss; Pejcinovic

Viking FK probable starting XI:

Ostbo; Heggheim, Stensness, Daland, Haugen; Moi, Bell, Askildsen; Tripic, Christiansen, Cosic

Stuttgart will clearly be the favorites for Wednesday’s encounter, particularly given the visitors’ limited experience in European competitions.

While Viking may aim to exploit the defensive shortcomings of their hosts, it seems challenging for them to effectively limit the attacking options presented by Stuttgart.