Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirovic Nets Historic 12-Minute Champions League Hat Trick

Ermedin Demirovic scored in the 20th, 26th, and 32nd minutes to give VfB Stuttgart a 3-1 halftime lead against Viking.

Ermedin Demirovic recorded the first hat trick of the Champions League season on Wednesday, scoring three goals within a 12-minute span to give VfB Stuttgart a 3-1 halftime lead over Viking. The 28-year-old Bosnian international found the net in the 20th, 26th, and 32nd minutes. His first two strikes entered the goal after striking the underside of the crossbar, while the third effort proved too powerful for Viking goalkeeper Arild Ostbo to stop. Viking captain Zlatko Tripić had briefly leveled the match in the 22nd minute.

According to ESPN, Demirovic’s performance set multiple milestones, becoming the first Stuttgart player to score a Champions League hat trick. Completed at the 31:21 mark, it stands as the fifth-earliest hat trick in the history of the competition. Prior to this match, the only Bosnian player to achieve a treble in the tournament was Edin Dzeko for AS Roma in 2018.

The performance trebled Demirovic’s career goal total in the competition. During Stuttgart's appearance in the single-standings format two years ago, he scored once in eight games as the club finished 26th. This match also marked a significant stage for Viking, the reigning Norwegian league champions, who are making their debut in the main phase of the Champions League.