Stuttgart host Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday hoping to shock their lofty opponents and make it by means of to the Champions League knockout rounds.
Whereas the French champions are strongly favoured, since Sebastian Hoeness was made coach in April 2023, Stuttgart have made a behavior of proving the doubters incorrect.
Having by some means saved the membership from the drop in his first season, Hoeness took Stuttgart to second place in 2023-24 — 40 factors higher than the earlier season and forward of Bayern Munich.
This yr, Stuttgart stumbled out of the gate as their shock success led to a summer season exodus of their finest gamers, together with striker Serhou Guirassy, captain Waldemar Anton and fellow centre-back Hiroki Ito.
Hoeness, the nephew of Bayern Munich powerbroker Uli, nevertheless steadied the ship, with Stuttgart again as much as fourth within the Bundesliga.
Barring a exceptional eight-goal win for Dinamo Zagreb at AC Milan, Stuttgart simply want a degree in opposition to PSG to qualify for the knockouts for the primary time since 2009-10 and proceed their gorgeous rise underneath Hoeness.
– ‘An enormous membership’ –
Regardless of two relegations previously decade, Stuttgart stay one among German soccer’s greatest golf equipment, with 5 league titles, the latest of which got here in 2006-07.
Hoeness took over with Stuttgart lifeless final within the desk and in peril of becoming a member of Hamburg and Schalke as fellow fallen giants of German soccer.
The 42-year-old has revitalised the membership, returning them to the place many really feel they rightfully belong.
The spotlight of Stuttgart’s return to the Champions League was a 1-0 win at Juventus in October, the place Hoeness’ facet dominated the Italian giants of their first lack of the season.
Germany striker Deniz Undav rejected Premier League riches to make his mortgage from Brighton everlasting in the summertime, clearly keen about the place the membership is headed.
Undav praised PSG on Saturday, however stated Stuttgart wouldn’t wilt in entrance of the French champions.
PSG are a “brutal membership” with “brutal gamers” Undav stated, earlier than including: “However Stuttgart are an enormous membership and we wish to present that on Wednesday.”
The 28-year-old stated Stuttgart wouldn’t be leaving something to probability on Wednesday by taking part in out for a draw.
“That does not matter,” Undav stated of Stuttgart needing only a level to qualify. “Now we have to win in opposition to Paris, then we’ll be on the protected facet.”
– ‘Shake ourselves up’ –
Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth stated the “stress can be on” the French champions within the competitors they worth most.
“It is a particular recreation. It has the texture of a remaining. It is one thing very particular which does not occur to us so much.”
Domestically, Paris are unbeaten and on monitor for an additional Ligue 1 title, however failing to make the highest 24 can be unthinkable.
German media have reported of a ‘non-aggression pact’ between the golf equipment, who may comply with play out a draw with a purpose to each qualify, however Wohlgemuth stated there was “nothing to” the rumours.
Hoeness has already promised his facet would deliver the battle.
Saturday’s toothless 2-0 loss at Mainz was Stuttgart’s first defeat of 2025.
“We’ll need to shake ourselves up now,” Hoeness advised reporters. “And within the coming days we’ll convert the anger into vitality for the subsequent recreation.
“And that recreation is on Wednesday in opposition to Paris.”
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