VfB Stuttgart has learned its eight opponents for the 2026/27 Champions League group stage. The draw handed the Swabians a mix of European heavyweights and newcomers, including six reigning domestic champions. Five of these teams are first-time competitive opponents for VfB.
The Big Names
The campaign kicks off at home on September 16 against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. Under Diego Simeone, Atletico finished fourth in La Liga last season and reached the Champions League semi-finals. This is followed by an away trip to face Italian champions Inter Milan, who secured the domestic double under coach Cristian Chivu. It will be the first-ever competitive meeting between VfB and the Nerazzurri.
From the Netherlands comes PSV Eindhoven, champions for the last three seasons and scorers of 101 goals in 2025/26. Manager Peter Bosz is rebuilding his squad after departures like Ismael Saibari to Bayern Munich. Another champion opponent is Belgian title holders Club Brugge, against whom Stuttgart has positive memories from UEFA Cup ties. VfB won both group stage meetings in the 2003/04 season.
New Faces and an Old Foe
Five of the eight pairings represent completely new competitive territory for VfB. These include Turkish serial winners Galatasaray, featuring striker Victor Osimhen, and French side Lille OSC. The last meeting with Lille was the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup final, won by Stuttgart. The biggest surprise is Norwegian champions Viking Stavanger, who qualified via the playoffs against Dinamo Zagreb and are making their group stage debut. Other new opponents are Czech champions Sparta Prague and Scottish champions Celtic Glasgow.
"All good chances, but also big challenges," was the comment from the German camp following the draw. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth emphasized the attractiveness of the opponents and the historic opportunity for the club. For VfB, the schedule presents a challenging but manageable task.
Manager Sebastian Hoeneß's squad can build on experience from last season's run to the knockout phase. With players like Deniz Undav, who already has six Champions League appearances, the roster possesses international know-how. Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel also gathered Champions League experience with Bayern Munich. The exact lineup and further statistics are available in the squad section.
The first matchday of the league phase begins in mid-September. VfB Stuttgart will then start its European journey with the home game against Atletico Madrid in front of its own fans. A total of 36 clubs will compete in the new league phase, with 24 teams qualifying for the knockout rounds. The remaining matchdays are scheduled for October, November, and December.
