STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirović scored the first hat trick of the Champions League season in the span of 12 first-half minutes against Viking on Wednesday.
Demirović found his rhythm to strike in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes and give Stuttgart a 3-1 lead at halftime against the Norwegian newcomer. Viking captain Zlatko Tripić had leveled in the 22nd.
The 28-year-old Bosnian international trebled his career goals total in the Champions League.
He scored just once in eight games when Stuttgart featured in the first edition of the new single-standings format two years ago. Stuttgart placed 26th and did not advance to the knockout phase.
Demirović also did not score when starting all four of Bosnia-Herzegovina's games at the 2026 World Cup, losing to the United States in the round of 32.
Demirović's first two goals were shots that went in after hitting the underside of the crossbar, and his third was too powerful for Viking goalkeeper Arild Ostbo's attempted save.
Viking, which edged Bodø/Glimt to win the Norwegian league title last year, is playing in the main phase for the first time in the 35-season Champions League era.
On Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy scored three times in a 3-2 win over Villarreal but the third was an own goal for the Spanish visitor.
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