VfB Stuttgart fell to an Atalanta side that scored twice in the second half at the MHPArena and have still yet to concede a goal in this season's league phase.

VfB Stuttgart 0-2 Atalanta
Goals: 0-1 Lookman 51', 0-2 Zaniolo 88'

Stuttgart celebrated their first win in this season's tournament thanks to an injury-time strike from Atalanta loanee El Bilal Touré against Juventus last time out. The Swabians welcomed Touré's host club on Matchday 4 and the Italians arrived at the MHPArena in solid form. UEFA Europa League winners last season, the men from Bergamo were on a seven-game unbeaten run before this encounter and Gian Piero Gasperini's side started on the front foot in what played out as a tight opening half. Ex-RB Leipzig player Ademola Lookman menaced, while Mario Pašalić shot narrowly wide. For their part, VfB had won three of their previous four games in all competitions and they had striker Deniz Undav spearheading their charge. The forward landed arguably the best chance of the opening 45' when he swiped wide from Chris Führich's clever through pass. 

With Atalanta winning their previous three Serie A games by an aggregate scored of 11-1, they were always going to pose a threat at some point. And so it proved not long after the restart. The home side, sloppy in possession, gave up the ball too easily and the visitors pounced. Charles De Ketelaere found space on the right and he rolled in for Lookman to slam home the opener. Things would worsen soon afterwards for Stuttgart, with Undav limping out of the contest. His replacement, Ermedin Demirović, then shot wide with the goal at his mercy. With Stuttgart chasing the game, attacker Jarzinho Malanga was thrown on to make his senior bow and the 18-year-old had the home fans on their feet when he struck narrowly wide. Yet that was as good as it would get for VfB, who conceded again at the death when Anthony Rouault's failed attempt at a clearance allowed Nicolò Zaniolo through to finish under Alexander Nübel.   

Match stats

• Atalanta are yet to concede in four Champions League games this season.
• This was the first competitive meeting between Stuttgart and Atalanta.
• Touré is on loan at Stuttgart from Atalanta and has already scored as many goals in 11 games for VfB as he got in 17 for the Italians last season (three). 
• Sead Kolašinac had a brief spell in Stuttgart’s academy before emerging at Schalke. Lazar Samardžić (Hertha Berlin and Leipzig), Lookman (Leipzig) and Odilon Kossounou (Leverkusen) have also played in the Bundesliga.

Teams

Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Chase (Stenzel 80'), Rouault, Mittelstädt - Atakan Karazor (c) (Rieder 74'), Stiller - Millot, Undav (Demirović 55'), Führich (Chabot 74') - Touré (Malanga 80')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Al-Dakhil, Keitel, Krätzig, Stergiou
Out: Keitel (groin), Leweling (hamstring), Raimund (thigh), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Atalanta: Carnesecchi - Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac (Kossounou 13') - Bellanova (Ruggeri 84'), De Roon (c), Éderson, Zappacosta - Pašalić (De Ketelaere 46') - Retegui (Zaniolo 69'), Lookman (Brescianini 84')
Unused subs: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Tolói, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Samardžić, Palestra
Out: Scalvini (cruciate ligament), Scamacca (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

As it happened!

0 - 2

(0 - 0)

Stuttgart

FINAL

Atalanta

Champions League
League phase, Matchday 4 League phase, Matchday 4 MHP Arena

Full-time: Stuttgart 0-2 Atalanta

It's back to the drawing board for Stuttgart, who suffer their second reverse of the league stage thanks to second-half goals from Ademola Lookman and Nicolò Zaniolo.

© IMAGO/Harald Bremes

89'

Time added on

There will be four extra minutes to play here.

88'

Atalanta home free

Not great defending from Stuttgart, who again gift possession a little too easily. Anthony Rouault compounds the problem by swinging at air when trying to clear. Zaniolo waltzes through and finishes under Nübel.

88'

Zaniolo

GOAL!

0:2

86'

Stenzel effort

Stenzel drags a shot wide of the target. Stittgart are pushing hard.

84'

Lookman and out

Ademola Lookman goes off to huge applause from the away fans.

84'

Substitution

Brescianini

Lookman

84'

Substitution

Ruggeri

Bellanova

82'

Malanga straight in

He's just come on, and Jarzinho Malanga smacks a shot from the right that flies just wide.

81'

One last throw

Sebastian Hoeneß brings Jarzinho Malanga and Pascal Stenzel on for the closing stages.

81'

Substitution

Jarzinho Malanga

El Bilal Touré

81'

Substitution

Pascal Stenzel

Anrie Chase

79'

Yellow card

Bellanova

75'

Double change

Rieder and Chabot are thrown into the mix as the hosts look to change things. Atalanta have just ventured into an offside position, the hosts relieved to see the flag raised.

74'

Substitution

Fabian Rieder

Atakan Karazor

74'

Substitution

Jeff Chabot

Chris Führich

72'

De Ketelaere header

The Belgian forward ghosts into the centre and lowers himself to glance a header at the Stuttgart goal. Nübel is there to make the save.

69'

Substitution

Zaniolo

Retegui

68'

Demirović booked

Stuttgart's sub goes into the book for a foul on Bellanova.

68'

Yellow card

Ermedin Demirović

62'

Stuttgart's problem

This is tricky for the hosts now as Atalanta have proven time and again in European competition that they are experts at sitting on a lead and playing a deadly counter-attacking game.

58'

Mittelstädt probing

VfB are up for the fight. Maximilian Mittelstädt races down the left and sends a decent cross into the mixer. Atalanta clear. The home fans raise the noise.

55'

Demirović off target

Straight from the bench, Ermedin Demirović has prodded wide with the goal gaping following Führich's short pass to the right. The home fans can't believe it.

55'

Stuttgart swap

Ermedin Demirović is on for the injured Undav.

55'

Substitution

Ermedin Demirović

Deniz Undav

54'

Yellow card

Éderson

53'

Undav hurt

Things look to be going from bad to worse for the hosts here with Undav down and feeling his hamstring.

51'

Visitors in front

Sloppy from Stuttgart, who are hustled out of possession too easily. De Ketelaere ends up with the ball out on the right and crosses low for Lookman, who finishes with glee. Atalanta lead.

51'

Lookman

GOAL!

0:1

48'

Wasted opportunity

Undav is man-handled by Odilon Kossounou out on the left and VfB win a free kick in an interesting position. Alas, the set-piece comes to nothing.

46'

Away we go again

Stuttgart get the second half underway.

Half-time: Stuttgart 0-0 Atalanta

It's been tight and at times lively, the action picking up as the half drew to a close. This Matchday 4 encounter is anybody's right now.

© IMAGO/Michael Weber IMAGEPOWER

45'

+ 1

Nübel tested

Lookman plays a tasty ball in from the left and Retegui is there on the run, planting a header straight at Nübel, who gladly welcomes the ball into his grasp.

44'

Big Undav chance

Chris Führich plays a clever, diagonal pass into the feet of Undav, who didn't look at the target before he swiped at goal. The ball flashes wide of the near post. That was probably the best chance of this game.

44'

Hien sees yellow

Atalanta's Swedish defender Isak Hien is booked for a heavy challenge on Stiller.

44'

Yellow card

Hien

41'

Chase in trouble

Chase pulls back the escaping Zappacosta and that's a yellow card all day long.

41'

Yellow card

Anrie Chase

Chances at a premium

One telling stat in this game so far is that neither keeper has had a shot to save.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Wolfgang Frank

36'

Millot lively

Millot goes down on the right and the hosts have a free kick. It's worked quickly to back to Millot who arcs a shot wide of the upright.

32'

Touré goes down

This time El Bilal Touré goes flying inside the Atalanta box after running into Zappacosta. The Stuttgart fans let out a roar but that's never a penalty.

29'

Pašalić appeal

Pašalić collapses in the area following a challenge from Mittelstädt. Stuttgart's No.7 made a clean tackle there and the referee acknowledges the fact, waving play on.

Nothing between them

Impossible to pick a winner here as we pass the halfway point of the first half. The teams are quite evenly matched.

© IMAGO/Peter Hartenfelser

19'

Visitors in possession

Gian Piero Gasperini's team have had 61 per cent of the ball thus far while either side has had one chance in this tightly-contested encounter.

15'

Flag saves Undav

The striker is played through by Millot's super pass along the floor, but the Germany international can only scoop wide when going for a chipped finish. The offside flag saves Undav's blushes somewhat.

13'

Atalanta's Kolašinac blow

Sead Kolašinac is injured in a challenge with Millot and has to come off. Odilon Kossounou - on loan from Bayer Leverkusen - is on for Atalanta.

13'

Substitution

Kossounou

Kolašinac

11'

Stuttgart go close

Rouault watches a looping ball into the Stuttgart area, rises and heads over the top. The home fans hold heads in hands, Rouault probably should have scored.

8'

Pašalić tester

Pašalić connects with a lay-off and side-foots the ball narrowly wide of the upright. Nübel had that covered, but it was a big moment for Atalanta's No.8, who should have made more of the chance.

5'

Balanced opening

Both sides are rather frantically looking for openings in these early stages, however, with Lookman and Zappacosta both in dangerous mood for Atalanta, it is the visitors who look the more threatening so far.

2'

Lookman danger

Stuttgart try to build through the centre but their opponents are soon on the attack and Ademola Lookman almost sneaks in before VfB hoof clear.

1'

Peeeep!

Atalanta get the game underway in Stuttgart ...

Moment of silence

The teams are out and form two groups in the centre circle as we break for a minute's silence to remember the victims of the recent floods in Valencia, Spain.

Teams in tunnel!

There's a terrific atmosphere inside the MHPArena as we await the appearance of the teams out on the pitch. Not long to kick off now.

Sebastian Hoeneß speaks

VfB's coach is full of praise for Stuttgart's opponents this evening, the tactician saying of Atalanta: "They have been playing regularly in European competition for years now, came fourth in the league last year and won the Europa League. That all shows what an outstanding team we are facing here."

© DFL/GettyImages/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

More on those teams

Just one change for Stuttgart following the 0-0 Bundesliga draw with Leverkusen at the weekend, with Chris Führich slotting into the right side of attack to replace Jamie Leweling, who pulled up with a hamstring issue last time out. El Bilal Touré - who is loan from Atalanta, and who bagged that sensational winner against Juventus - once again gets the nod at centre-forward. Meanwhile for the Italians, Mateo Retegui steps in to replace Charles De Ketelaere in a front two alongside Ademola Lpookman, while Raoul Bellanova replaces Matteo Ruggeri out wide in midfield.

© DFL/GettyImages/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Atalanta starting XI

Carnesecchi - Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac - Bellanova, De Roon (c), Éderson, Zappacosta - Pašalić - Retegui, Lookman

Atalanta subs

Rui Patrício, Rossi, Tolói, Kossounou, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Zaniolo, De Ketelaere, Ruggeri, Samardžić, Palestra, Brescianini

Stuttgart starting XI

Nübel - Vagnoman, Chase, Rouault, Mittelstädt - Atakan Karazor (c), Stiller - Millot, Undav, Führich - Touré

Stuttgart subs

Bredlow, Seimen, Al-Dakhil, Keitel, Demirović, Krätzig, Stenzel, Stergiou, Chabot, Rieder, Malanga

European bounce

Since a narrow defeat to UCL champions Real Madrid, Stuttgart have lost just once and that came at the hands of another heavyweight: Bayern Munich. Their record following defeat in Madrid reads P9, W4, D4, L1 in all competitions and they bounced back after those losses to Real and Bayern by beating Borussia Dortmund (5-1) and Juventus (1-0), respectively. It feels as if their European adventure is benefitting VfB's output across the board.

© MARCO BERTORELLO

Enjoying the ride

That Stuttgart are back in Europe's premier club competition is reason enough for the team to cheer, let alone the excellent start they've made thus far. This is just their fifth Champions League campaign and first since reaching the last-16 of the 2009/10 edition.

Chance to keep pace

After last night's action, Stuttgart now have the chance to pull themselves level with a whole host of teams on seven points. If they're able to do so, VfB will be catapulted within touching distance of the top of this massive, 36-team table.

More on Atalanta

Stuttgart will be well-aware of Atalanta, given they were the only side to beat Bundesliga champions Leverkusen last season, doing so in the Europa League final. This term Gian Piero Gasperini's side have been just as good, and sit three points off the top of Serie A on a five-game winning run.

Mittelstädt on Atalanta

“Atalanta are really good going forward and are always capable of creating chances. It’ll be important for us to work together as a team and to not leave them much space. Our defensive work has progressed well and become more stable over the past few weeks – putting aside the game at Bayern Munich. I’m confident that we can produce a good performance against Atalanta. We’ve often managed to seize control against teams who have strong attacks.”

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Mittelstädt on famous Juventus win

“We played really well in that game. We hardly gave Juve any chances and at the other end we created plenty ourselves. That win strengthened us even further as a team. We’re in good form right now and can go into the game against Atalanta with plenty of confidence.”

© MARCO BERTORELLO

Stuttgart team news

Jamie Leweling, who was forced off early against Leverkusen last time out, is absent along with Dan-Axel Zagadou and Luca Raimund. It remains to be seen whether Sebastian Hoeneß will be able to call upon the services of Yannik Keitel, Leonidas Stergiou and Jeff Chabot for this encounter.

© IMAGO/UWE KRAFT

Atalanta team news

There are just two absentees for Atalanta ahead of this clash, and they are both long-term ones as Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca continue to recover from cruciate ligament injuries. After being dropped to the bench for the win over Napoli, Mateo Retegui should return to the starting line-up.

© IMAGO/Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse

Well-known faces

There are several faces in the Atalanta squad that Stuttgart supporters will be familiar with. Sead Kolašinac had a brief spell in Stuttgart’s academy before emerging at Schalke. Lazar Samardžić (Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig), Lookman (Leipzig) and Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen) have also played in the Bundesliga

© Gabor Krieg via www.imago-images.de

Atalanta on form

Stuttgart will need to be at their best to get past reigning UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta. Le Dea have been in fantastic form in recent weeks - they are currently unbeaten in their past eight matches in all competitions, and come into this clash on the back of a convincing 3-0 win away at Serie A leaders Napoli. Third in the table themselves, Atalanta will look to Ademola Lookman and top goalscorer Mateo Retegui for inspiration.

Familiar territory

The hero against Juventus was summer signing El Bilal Touré, whose last gasp winner was his first goal in the tournament. The striker will be returning to his former club when these two sides meet; he spent one season at Atalanta, scoring three times.

Finding their feet

With a win and a draw in their last two league games, Sebastian Hoeneß's men seem to be regaining their confidence. They also beat Juventus last time out in the Champions League, managing to keep a clean sheet away from home as they saw out a 1-0 win in Turin.

1:01

Watch: Leverkusen 0-0 Stuttgart highlights

Stuttgart picked up a valuable point away from home against Leverkusen on Matchday 9.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of VfB Stuttgart's fourth UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase at home to Atalanta on Wednesday.

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