VfB Stuttgart faced a disappointing exit from the Champions League after losing 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain. Ousmane Dembélé scored a hat-trick, while Stuttgart struggled to find their footing despite a late consolation goal from an own goal by Willian Pacho. In contrast, Bayer Leverkusen advanced to the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague, marking their return to this stage after eight years, thanks to goals from Wirtz and Nathan Tella.
VfB Stuttgart’s Disappointing Exit from the Champions League
As VfB Stuttgart geared up for their match against Paris Saint-Germain, they held onto optimistic hopes of progressing in the Champions League. Unfortunately, those aspirations were swiftly extinguished by a brilliant display from Ousmane Dembélé, the former Dortmund star, alongside a strong performance from the entire PSG squad. In contrast, Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning champions, excelled in their match.
The final score read VfB Stuttgart 1, Paris Saint-Germain 4, with Stuttgart’s hopes dashed early in the contest. The French giants showcased their superiority as they dominated the game, with Dembélé netting a hat-trick and leading his team to a decisive victory. Stuttgart’s only consolation came from a late own goal by Willian Pacho.
Match Highlights and Stuttgart’s Struggles
The journey for VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League playoffs came to an abrupt end against a far more skilled Paris Saint-Germain squad. Despite starting with some determination, Stuttgart quickly fell behind when Bradley Barcola scored in the 6th minute. Dembélé soon followed with goals in the 17th, 35th, and 54th minutes, leaving Stuttgart scrambling to regain composure.
Though Stuttgart’s Chris Führich had two promising chances to equalize, he could not find the back of the net against PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. After Dembélé’s first goal was confirmed by VAR, Stuttgart struggled to regain their footing, allowing PSG’s attacking trio to dominate the field with seamless coordination. With every attempt to rally, Stuttgart found their efforts thwarted by PSG’s solid defense.
In the second half, Stuttgart emerged with renewed motivation, but their offensive pushes were consistently countered by PSG’s defensive prowess. Dembélé sealed the match with his third goal, leaving Stuttgart in need of significant help from other matches, which ultimately did not materialize.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen advanced confidently with a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague, securing their place in the round of 16 for the first time in eight years. Goals from Wirtz and Nathan Tella propelled them to a strong performance, avoiding the dreaded playoff round.
Leverkusen’s coach, Alonso, remained calm, urging his team not to rush their game. They controlled the match expertly, showcasing their attacking flair while remaining defensively solid. With this victory, they now look forward to the upcoming matches in the knockout phase of the Champions League.