Ermedin Demirovic in a goal frenzy: VfB Stuttgart striker creates a first in the Champions League

The Bosnian is preferred to new signing Dzenan Pejcinovic for the opening game in the Champions League and fires his way into the VfB history books.

Demirovic all but wrapped up a clear half-time lead for the Swabians against Viking Stavanger on his own. The 28-year-old struck for 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 for the Bundesliga club in the space of just 12 minutes (20, 26, 32). Angelo Stiller and Deniz Undav, twice, supplied the assists.

No Stuttgart player had ever scored a hat-trick in the Champions League or its predecessor, the European Cup, before.

So far in the Bundesliga, Demirovic had come off the bench in two matches for a total of 47 minutes. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß explained his decision to start the 28-year-old before the game.

"Yes, it certainly didn't do any harm that he had such a good impact off the bench," said Hoeneß, referring to Demirovic's excellent goal in the recent 4-1 win against 1. FC Cologne. "Regardless of that, Medo will play a good role for us this year. He is an important player for us and that's why it simply makes sense to start rotating from time to time too."