After victories over PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig, Juventus' Champions League journey will continue with a home encounter against Stuttgart this week, the Bianconeri's second German opposition in the tournament.
There is no previous European tie between the two teams, but Stuttgart has already faced Italian teams 13 times in its history: seven times in the UEFA Cup – the current Europa League – where they’ve registered one win, three draws and three defeats; twice in the Intertoto Cup (with one win and one loss); twice in the Fairs Cup (one draw and one defeat) and most recently in the Europa League, in a two-legged clash against Lazio in the 2012/2013 season that saw the Biancoceleste win both matches.
Unlike German rivals RB Leipzig, who were born in the first decade of this millennium, Stuttgart have a far greater history behind them.
STUTTGART’S HISTORY
Founded on 9 September 1893 under the name Stuttgart FV 93, the club merged with Kronen-Club Cannstatt – a team that was initially founded as an exclusively rugby club – on 2 April 1912 and subsequently changed its name to VfB Stuttgart 1893 e.V..
The club's colours are white and red, with a red band on the chest. The players are called ‘The Reds’ - ‘Die Roten’ in German - in opposition to local rivals the Stuttgarter Kickers, nicknamed ‘The Blues’.
Stuttgart is one of the oldest teams in Germany and has won the Bundesliga five times in its history, finishing second five times as well – their result just this past season – while they’ve won the German Cup three times and the German Super Cup once. They came close to winning a second German Super Cup this season, but were defeated by Bayer Leverkusen on penalties at the start of the season. At European level, Stuttgart boasts two victories in the Intertoto Cup.
STUTTGART THIS SEASON
Stuttgart are participating in the German Bundesliga for the 58th time in their history.
This season’s start has not the best for Sebastian Hoeneß’s charges, who sit tenth on the German top-flight table with just two wins from their first seven games, with 15 goals scored and the same amount conceded. In Europe, they've collected just one point from their opening two games, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in their opener before earning a 1-1 draw against Sparta Praha last time out. In total, the Germans have won just three out of their last 19 matches in the Champions League.
SEE YOU ON TUESDAY, 22 OCTOBER AT 21:00 CEST AT THE ALLIANZ STADIUM FOR JUVENTUS-STUTTGART!