That a 1-1 draw at home to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League feels slightly disappointing for VfB Stuttgart is a sign of their continued progress. Still unbeaten in the competition this term, they could be one of the season's surprise packages…

VfB Stuttgart, the UEFA Champions League surprise package?

Die Schwaben have endured a difficult start to the Bundesliga campaign. Their 1-0 defeat to Hamburg on Matchday 6 was their fourth, already half the total number of defeats they suffered last term, leaving them 13th in the table.

However, on the continental stage, they have shown exactly what they are capable of. They kicked off with a 3-1 victory over Viking – who later drew with Bayern Munich on Matchday 2 – courtesy of Ermedin Demirović’s hat-trick, and they breezed past Slovan Bratislava 3-0.

Demirović netted a hat-trick in Stuttgart's opening-matchday win over Viking. - IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Herbert Rudel

Nevertheless, with all due respect to both of those opponents, Atlético represented a significant step up in quality. After all, Los Colchoneros reached the semi-finals in 2025/26 and have long been at Europe’s top table.

Sebastian Hoeneß’ men, though, brushed off their underwhelming domestic form to cause their guests all sorts of problems. Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak was tested twice inside the opening 60 seconds, and by the time Jamie Leweling broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, the away side had fired just a single shot on target at Dennis Seimen – the goalkeeper was making his Champions League debut and therefore became the youngest shot-stopper for the club in the competition.

The only complaint will be that they weren’t further ahead at the break, especially after Julian Alvarez levelled proceedings with a clever finish shortly after the interval. Yet Stuttgart responded well, and Martin Hjulmand’s red card for a poor challenge on Angelo Stiller with a little under 30 minutes remaining gave them the chance to clinch the three points.

Leweling gave Stuttgart the lead against Atletico after a dominant start. - THOMAS KIENZLE

They subsequently dominated possession and territory and had several chances of varying quality to restore their lead, but ultimately couldn't beat Oblak a second time. Still, their seven points from three games keep them unbeaten and well placed to progress to the knockout stages, and the likes of Bilal El Khannouss, Deniz Undav and Leweling have the talent to cause any side problems.

Hoeneß and his players' reaction after full-time showed their belief that they can compete with the very best at this level. “We can be proud of our performance – and yet we're also a little disappointed at the moment because there could have been a bit more in it for us,” said the head coach.

“Ultimately, against a top European team, we were only missing the winning goal – that shows how good our performance was.”

Meanwhile, Leweling echoed his boss’ sentiments, saying, “It feels a bit strange: before the game, we might have been happy with a draw, but in the minutes after the final whistle, I think there was more in it for us”.

The challenge now is for Stuttgart to translate their European performances to the league, starting with the visit of Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday. In the Champions League, though, they seem comfortable in their surroundings and, after failing to finish in the top 24 of the League Phase when they were last in it two years ago, they have what it takes to go much further this time around.