Deniz Undav scored VfB Stuttgart's first goal back in the UEFA Champions League at Real Madrid. - © Angel Martinez

bundesliga

Juventus vs. VfB Stuttgart: UEFA Champions League team news, match stats and LIVE blog!

21.10.2024

In a mixed season so far but spearheaded by the in-form Deniz Undav, VfB Stuttgart are aiming for another up by claiming their first UEFA Champions League scalp at Juventus on Tuesday (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

Latest

Sebastian Hoeneß takes Stuttgart into a clash with another top side no doubt contemplating how to build on some promising performances against stern opposition into results. His charges matched Bayern Munich in the opening half on Saturday evening, only to fall to a 4-0 defeat, while they put in a great showing at Real Madrid in their first Champions League match before coming undone with two late goals in a 3-1 loss. A 5-1 win over Borussia Dortmund does provide a template to follow in their mission to overturn the odds and claim their first Champions League win of the season in Turin. Undav fired two goals on that day and remains a force to be reckoned with by any defence, despite the goalless evening in Munich. Jamie Leweling is another Stuttgart attacker in fine fettle after firing the winner on his Germany debut against the Netherlands last week. Chris Führich is one of the players on a lengthy injury list.

Juventus can be very content with their season so far after remaining unbeaten in their eighth Serie A game with a 1-0 win over Lazio. Thiago Motta's charges have conceded a miserly one goal in those eight encounters, although they have been far from prolific at the other end, with two goals in their past four home league ties - a penalty and an 85th-minute own goal against Lazio. Centre-back and club captain Bremer is out after tearing a cruciate ligament in their last Champions League tie in Leipzig, and Stuttgart will no doubt be studying how Benjamin Šeško fired a brace past Juve that night (even though the Italian side emerged 3-2 winners). Former Stuttgart winger Nico González and ex-Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie are among the other names on a lengthy injury list.

Watch: The rise of Deniz Undav

Match stats

Stuttgart boast more goals in their opening seven matches of the Bundesliga season (15) than Juventus do in their first eight Serie A clashes (11).
Undav has seven goals in his past seven games for club and country.
Stuttgart have lost just three of their past 15 matches in all competitions.
Stuttgart's on-loan striker El Bilal Touré played for parent club Atalanta against Juventus in last season's Coppa Italia final (losing 1-0).
McKennie made 91 appearances for Schalke in four years between 2017 and 2021 while González scored 23 times in 79 appearances for Stuttgart earlier in his career. Arkadiusz Milik, meanwhile, spent time with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Augsburg (on loan), whereas Kenan Yıldız played for the Bayern youth ranks.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

Probable teams

VfB Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Stiller, Karazor (c) - Millot, Undav, Leweling - Demirović
Out: Diehl (shoulder), Führich (adductor), Nartey (knee), Raimund (thigh), Stergiou (back), Zagadou (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Juventus: Perin - Savona, Kalulu, Gatti (c), Cambiaso - Fagioli, Locatelli, Luiz - Conceição, Vlahović, Yıldız
Out: Bremer (cruciate ligament), Di Gregorio (suspended), Koopmeiners (ribs), Milik (knee), Pogba (suspended)
Doubtful: González (muscular), McKennie (muscular)
Coach: Thiago Motta

LIVE blog!

Juventus

Tue, 22.10 19:00

Stuttgart

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 3 League phase, Matchday 3 Juventus Stadium, Turin

Thiago Motta on facing Stuttgart

“Stuttgart play well. They are very good at pressing first and organising themselves, building a line of five that is difficult to overcome. I like them a lot, it will be a beautiful game to play, and we will have to be complete, as I think the Germans are, preventing them from playing a comfortable game: this means keeping the ball, fighting and defending together when it's time, closing spaces, not giving them chances to play their own game."

Sebastian Hoeneß on facing Juventus

"We want to play with courage and show what we can do on the European stage. Juventus are a historic club with great tradition, who are doing really well. There's great excitement for tomorrow. We're not going to get an abundance of chances. It's about showing our strengths and style of play on the pitch."

2:03

Watch: Bayern 4-0 Stuttgart

Sebastian Hoeneß's men fell to a demoralising defeat to Bayern on Matchday 7.

Stern defence

Juventus have won four and drawn four in their first eight league games, while conceding a grand total of just one goal. Undav and co. will have to be at their very best if they're to unlock the Juve backline.

Stumbling Stuttgart

In the Bundesliga, Sebastian Hoeneß's men have struggled of late, drawing two and losing one in their last three games. They conceded first in their two draws against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim, before losing 4-0 against Bayern in their most recent game.

Searching for three points

Stuttgart are yet to win in this competition, losing to Real Madrid in their first game despite a strong performance before drawing to Sparta Prague. Juventus have won both of their opening fixtures against PSV and RB Leipzig.

2:56

Razor-sharp!

Stuttgart fans will be hoping in-form striker Deniz Undav can make the difference in this stiff test, and his stats suggest that he could be the man to step up in Italy: six goals and one assist in ten appearances across four competitions this season, including a strike against Real Madrid on Matchday 1.

Go time

Sebastian Hoeneß' men lost 3-1 away to Real Madrid and drew 1-1 at home to Sparta Prague and now sit among the elimination places (24th) after two matchdays. Thiago Motta's Juventus, meanwhile, sit seventh following an opening-day 3-1 win at home to PSV and a dramatic 3-2 win in Leipzig.

How do you do?

Following successive defeats in their opening matches, Stuttgart will be looking to open their account in the 2024/25 league phase as they travel to Juventus Stadium in Turin to take on La Vecchia Signora - two-time Champions League winners - for the very first time in any competition.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of VfB Stuttgart's third UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Juventus on Tuesday.