Stuttgart head to Bratislava without Mittelstädt, seeking second Champions League win
VfB Stuttgart visit Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League on Wednesday without Germany defender Maximilian Mittelstädt. Yaya Touré coaches the hosts.
Archive image · Photo: Steindy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
VfB Stuttgart travel to Bratislava on the back of two straight wins. After a 3-1 victory over Viking Stavanger to open the league phase and a 2-0 Bundesliga win at Paderborn, Sebastian Hoeneß's side face Slovak champion Slovan on Wednesday (2100 local). Stuttgart will be without Maximilian Mittelstädt, who sustained a deep cut to his right heel at Paderborn that required stitches. Defensive leader Jeff Chabot, who was substituted at Paderborn, is also doubtful, although he took part in the final training session on Tuesday.
Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth called the match a "task that can possibly be solved." Slovan lost their opener 6-1 at Paris Saint-Germain. The Slovaks have been coached since the summer by former star midfielder Yaya Touré, 43, whom bundesliga.com describes as the first African coach in the Champions League.
Stuttgart have fond memories of their last trip there: in January 2025 they won 3-1 in Bratislava, with Jamie Leweling scoring twice.