VfB Stuttgart pay penalty in Basel defeat

Ermedin Demirović missed a first-half penalty as VfB Stuttgart slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Basel in the UEFA Europa League.

Basel 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Ajeti 3', 2-0 Broschinski 84' (assist: Shaqiri)

Basel had already threatened through Jeremy Agbonifo, when Albian Ajeti fired beyond Alex Nübel with just three minutes gone.

Stuttgart were handed the chance to level past the half-hour mark, but Demirović’s penalty was saved by former Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.

Another ex-Bundesliga face almost added salt into the wound before the half-time whistle, but Xherdan Shaqiri's long-range rocket landed on the roof of the net.

As Stuttgart chased the game, Hitz made a brilliant point-blank save to stop Chema Andrés heading in an equaliser after the restart.

The recalled Basel custodian was at it again to foil Tiago Tomás, with Stuttgart's frustrations compounded late on when former Mainz man Moritz Broschinski converted from Shaqiri to put the result beyond doubt.

Stuttgart's next Europa League fixture is away to Fenerbahçe on 23 October.

See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures and results here

Recap the action against Basel below...

2 - 0

(0 - 0)

Basel

FINAL

Stuttgart

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 2 League phase, Matchday 2 St. Jakob-Park, Basel

Full-time: Basel 2-0 Stuttgart

It was a case of missed opportunities for Stuttgart who responded well after going behind early to an Ajeti goal. But Demirović's missed penalty set the tone for the night in front of goal with Hitz pulling off miraculous saves to deny the Bosnian forward, Chema and Tomás. Former Bundesliga player Broschinski then put the game beyond doubt as Stuttgart pushed for an equaliser that didn't come.

© IMAGO/Alexander Keppler

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Snap shot from Broschinski!

It should be three for Basel. Hendriks's failed clearance only went as far as Broschinski, who hacked at the ball which sailed just wide of Nübel's left hand post.

90'

+ 1

Substitution

Josha Vagnoman

Lorenz Assignon

90'

+ 1

Five added minutes

The fourth official has signalled five added minutes of stoppage time.

89'

Substitution

Adrian Barišić

Ibrahim Salah

84'

Basel double their lead

Stuttgart are caught sleeping and Shaqiri's cross-shot is headed in by Broschinski on the line.

84'

Moritz Broschinski

GOAL!

2:0

82'

Hitz to the rescue!

It's all Stuttgart at the moment and after a wayward back pass from Adjetey, Hitz is forced into another point bank save, this time to deny Tomás.

80'

Substitution

Lazar Jovanović

Badredine Bouanani

79'

Stuttgart up the tempo

The visitors have had three set pieces in the space of 90 seconds, and they're not allowing Basel to breathe as they push for an equaliser.

78'

Yellow card

Ibrahim Salah

71'

Substitution

Moritz Broschinski

Albian Ajeti

71'

Substitution

Andrej Bačanin

Koba Koindredi

71'

Substitution

Marin Šotiček

Philip Otele

71'

Double change for Stuttgart

Hoeneß makes two attacking changes as Stuttgart press for an equaliser, and they're almost immediately awarded when Hendriks's header forces Hitz into a reaction save.

70'

Substitution

Chris Führich

Jamie Leweling

70'

Substitution

Bilal El Khannouss

Chema Andrés

69'

Yellow card

Dominik Schmid

65'

Stuttgart frustrated

Basel are happy to sit in a low block as Leweling fires another effort over from distance, which doesn't trouble anyone. Stuttgart are visibly frustrated at not being able to break the hosts down.

62'

Substitution

Ibrahim Salah

Jeremy Agbonifo

Stuttgart push for an equaliser

Demirović has come close on several occasions but it hasn't been the Bosnian's night. Still, Stuttgart are on top and there's plenty of time to find an equaliser.

© IMAGO/Alexander Keppler

57'

Huge chance!

Stiller's free-kick is played short to Mittelstädt who whips in an excellent cross from deep with his left foot. It's met by the head of Chema, who forces Hitz into a point blank save to keep Basel in a slender lead.

52'

Stuttgart start strongly

Central defender Jaquez finds himself out of position in the attacking third, but he whips in a dangerous ball across Basel's six-yard box which is narrowly missed by Tomás.

49'

Side netting!

A bright start from Stuttgart. Assignon finds himself in an excellent position but opts to take on the shot from a tight angle which goes into the side netting.

46'

Teams are out

We are back underway as Basel kick from left to right. Can Stuttgart find an equaliser?

Kick-off!

Half-time: Basel 1-0 Stuttgart

The hosts lead through Ajeti but Stuttgart responded well. Bouanani has been Stuttgart's creative outlet. Demirović also came close on two occasions and missed a penalty, but Stuttgart continue to probe for an equaliser. However, the visitors have to be wary of Basel's attack, who have looked dangerous on the counter-attack. The visitors are still very much in this.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Thomas Hess

Half-time

45'

+ 2

Close from Basel!

Basel go agonisingly close again. Shaqiri picks the ball up from 35 yards and his effort loops over the stricken Nübel and on to the roof of the net.

45'

+ 2

Wide from Ajeti!

Stuttgart have to be careful here. Route one football from Basel isn't dealt with and the ball falls to Ajeti. The Swiss forward fires the ball just wide of Nübel's post. A warning sign for the visitors.

45'

+ 1

Stoppage time indicated

The fourth official shows up four minutes of stoppage time.

43'

From distance

Bouanani is getting a lot of joy down Basel's left. The Algerian cuts inside before playing a diagonal pass to Leweling, who himself cuts inside onto his favoured right foot before firing low and wide.

33'

Saved!

After a lengthy pause while the challenge was checked by the VAR, Demirović sees his penalty saved by Hitz, who dives low to his right.

33'

Penalty for Stuttgart!

Tomás gets to the ball first and goes down in the box under the challenge of Adjetey.

32'

Leweling fires over

Stuttgart continue to probe for an equaliser and after a prolonged spell of possession, Leweling's ambitious effort from distance sails over Hitz's crossbar.

31'

Yellow card

Albian Ajeti

31'

Ouch

Stuttgart defender Hendriks goes down holding his foot after a painful challenge from Ajeti.

26'

Demirović heads over

As Stuttgart go probing for an equaliser, Tomás finds himself free down Basel's right hand side and after an exquisite bit of skill, creates space and whips in an excellent cross for Demirović, who heads the ball over unchallenged.

25'

Play resumes

Karazor was warming up for Stuttgart, but Stiller returns to the pitch as play resumes.

23'

Clash of heads

Play is currently halted with Stuttgart's Stiller and Basel's Leroy both down on the pitch receiving treatment after a nasty clash of heads.

The opener

Ajeti gave Basel an early lead, but Stuttgart have responded well. Can they find an equaliser?

© Daniela Porcelli

18'

Off the post!

This game is being played at full throttle. Down at the other end, Otele was unselfish and his pass found Agbonifo, whose effort comes back off Nübel's post.

15'

Demirović offside

Bouanani is Stuttgart's creative outlet at the moment and his delicately lobbed pass finds Demirović, whose header forces a save from Hitz. The Bosnian was eventually flagged for offside, but he wasn't to know.

15'

Basel charge forward

The hosts find themselves on the counter-attack but Schmid opts to take on the shot from distance himself which sails wide.

9'

Stuttgart probe

Assignon has time to play in a cross, which is deflected and tipped over by Basel's Hitz. Stuttgart have responded well since going a goal behind.

3'

Early lead

Assignon's wayward back pass is picked up by Ajeti, who shrugs off the opposing defender before slotting the ball under the onrushing Nübel.

3'

Albian Ajeti

GOAL!

1:0

1'

Flying start!

Basel with the first attack of the game in the first minute, charging down Stuttgart's right. The ball is cut back to Agbonifo, but his shot is blocked superbly by Mittelstädt.

1'

We are under way

Stuttgart get the game under way, kicking off from left to right.

Kick-off!

Teams out

After draws for Freiburg and Mainz in Europe tonight, can Stuttgart go one better?

More on those teams

Hoeneß makes five changes to the team that came from behind to beat Cologne in the Bundesliga at the weekend. Lorenz Assignon and Maxi Mittelstädt come back in to occupy the full-back positions, while Chema Andrés starts in central midfield. Forwards Badredine Bouanani (pictured) - on target in the Celta Vigo game - and Jamie Leweling also get the nod. As for Basel, the most notable change following their Europa League defeat in Freiburg is the return to the starting line-up of ex-Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.

© IMAGO/Grant Hubbs

Starting line-up: VfB Stuttgart

33

Alexander Nübel

3

Ramon Hendriks

6

Angelo Stiller

7

Maximilian Mittelstädt

8

Tiago Tomás

9

Ermedin Demirović

14

Luca Jaquez

18

Jamie Leweling

22

Lorenz Assignon

27

Badredine Bouanani

30

Chema Andrés

Stuttgart subs

Bredlow, Vagnoman, Führich, El Khannouss, Karazor, Zagadou, Chabot, Catovic, Jovanović

Basel starting line-up

Hitz - Vouilloz, Daniliuc, Adjetey, Schmid - Koindredi, Leroy - Agbonifo, Shaqiri (c), Otele - Ajeti

Basel subs

Salvi, Pfeiffer, Bačanin, Broschinski, Šotiček, Salah, Barišić, Kacuri, Cisse, Zé, Akahomen

Sebastian Hoeneß on facing Basel

"It's always about bringing your game to the pitch. Basel are a good team that play good football. We have to prevent them from getting into their flow. If we can do that, we have a good chance. We have to play at our limit."

© IMAGO/Alexander Keppler

Ludovic Magnin (Basel head coach) on facing Stuttgart

"They are one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. We know that. We know how they play football. They are a team that develops a certain momentum going forward, with fast players and dribblers."

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Distant memories

These two teams have only ever played each other twice, which was way back in the 1978/79 edition of the UEFA Cup. Stuttgart won both legs in the first round of the competition (3-2, 4-1), and they'll hope to maintain their perfect record against them on Thursday.

© imago sportfotodienst

One to watch

While Shaqiri is the Swiss side's top scorer in the league with four goals, their joint-top assister is Philip Otele with three. He also has two goals in the league and scored the side's only goal in their loss to Freiburg. In the 2024/25 Swiss Super League campaign, Otele racked up 13 goal contributions in 18 games (nine goals and four assists).

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Man in-form

The Swabians' Ermedin Demirović has been the main man up top for Hoeneß's side so far this season, and he's repaid that faith by scoring three goals in five Bundesliga games. His penalty against Cologne on the weekend was the start of the turnaround that saw his side go on to win 2-1, as he put in a battling performance to go with his goal.

© IMAGO/Julia Rahn

Bundesliga influence

Shaqiri isn't the only member of the Basel squad to have graced Germany's top tier. His strike partner is former Bochum man Moritz Broschinski and their goalkeeper is former Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg man Marwin Hitz (pictured). Albian Ajeti was also once on Augsburg's books, and Bayern youth product Flavius Daniliuc will likely start at the heart of their defence.

© IMAGO/Sportfoto Zink / Wolfgang Zink

A familiar face

Another noticeable name in the Basel ranks is Xherdan Shaqiri. The diminutive magician spent three years in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich between 2012-15, before going on to represent the likes of Inter Milan and Liverpool. He won three Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and two DFB Cups during his time in Bavaria.

© imago sportfotodienst

Magnin's Stuttgart history

The Basel boss, a former Swiss international centre-back, spent four years at Stuttgart between 2005-2009. He made 134 appearances for them and helped guide them to the 2006/07 Bundesliga title. He also represented Werder Bremen, with whom he won the Bundesliga and DFB Cup double in 2003/04.

© Pressefoto Rudel/Robin Rudel via www.imago-images.de

Contrasting form

While Stuttgart will travel to Switzerland on a three game-winning streak, the hosts' haven't been as convincing in their recent fixtures. They're winless in their last three, which includes a 2-2 draw away to second division side Etoile Carouge in the Swiss Cup. They do, however, sit fifth in the Swiss Super League with 12 points from seven games, just three points off first place.

© IMAGO/Pius Koller

Basel up next

Sebastian Hoeneß's side will travel to Switzerland next, where they'll face Basel. Ludovic Magnin's side lost their Europa League opener to Stuttgart's Bundesliga rivals Freiburg, with Patrick Osterhage and Maximilian Eggestein scoring the goals in a 2-1 win at Europa-Park Stadion.

© IMAGO/Fotostand / Schäfer

Last time out

Stuttgart began their Europa League journey with a home win over Spanish side Celta Vigo. New signings Bilal El Khannouss (pictured) and Badredine Bouanani were the scorers in a 2-1 win at the MHPArena, making it two wins on the bounce in all competitions at the time. They've extended that run to three now, having beaten Cologne 2-1 on Bundesliga Matchday 5.

© IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

Welcome!

Welcome along to live coverage of Stuttgart's second match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League away at Basel in Switzerland on Thursday.

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