Stuttgart vs Viking Prediction & Tips | Champions League - League phase | FootballTips.app

VfB Stuttgart begin their Champions League campaign at home to Viking FK, who return to Europe’s top competition after more than four decades away. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side enter having won three of their last six matches in all competitions, while Viking are unbeaten in five and arrive in Germany with confidence after an impressive qualifying run.

The Norwegian side reached the league phase by beating Dinamo Zagreb 5-3 on aggregate in the play-offs. After a 2-2 first-leg draw, Viking won the return 3-1 at home through goals from Zlatko Tripić, Edvin Austbø and Tobias Moi, completing a tie in which they showed both resilience and attacking efficiency.

Stuttgart’s recent form has been more mixed, with three wins, one draw and two defeats from their last six, but they remain a dangerous attacking side. They scored 14 times across that sequence and won four of six home matches in last season’s Europa League, although they ended that campaign with three consecutive European defeats.

Viking’s historical record at this level is far less encouraging. This is their first European Cup or Champions League appearance since 1983/84, and they have lost 10 of their previous 12 matches in the competition. Norwegian sides have also found Germany a difficult destination, recording only one win from six previous European Cup or Champions League away fixtures against Bundesliga opposition.

The visitors nevertheless arrive with genuine momentum. They have scored in 11 consecutive matches across all competitions and are unbeaten in their last three away games, while Tripić has already scored twice in European qualifying. Their ability to recover after conceding first has also been notable, with Viking failing to open the scoring in any of their last six matches but still winning three of them.

Stuttgart should dominate territory and possession, particularly given their pressing profile under Hoeneß, but Viking have shown enough attacking threat to make this competitive. The hosts’ greater experience, midfield quality and home advantage should still give them the stronger platform.