What to expect from the historic clash?
As VfB Stuttgart prepares to face FC Porto on March 12, 2026, at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, the central question arises: how will these two teams perform in their first-ever meeting?
Stuttgart enters this match with a challenging history in European competitions, having not won any of their last eight home major European knockout games. In contrast, FC Porto boasts a strong recent record against German teams, having won their last three major European matches against them.
In their previous encounters, Stuttgart faced Portuguese opposition in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League, where they lost both legs to Benfica. This match against Porto presents an opportunity for Stuttgart to break their European knockout curse at home.
For this match, Stuttgart’s starting XI includes Blaswich, Nartey, Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendriks, Karazor, Stiller, Leweling, Undav El Khannouss, and Demirovic. Meanwhile, Porto will field D.Costa, A.Costa, Silva, Bednarek, Zaidu, Fofana, Rosario, Rodrigo Mora, William Gomes, Moffi, and Sainz.
Stuttgart has had a mixed performance in their domestic league, with five wins and three losses. They have very few injury concerns ahead of the match, although Josha Vagnoman and Lazar Jovanovic are doubtful. On the other hand, FC Porto has been solid, with 25 wins, three draws, and only one defeat in their current record, but they will be without Nehuén Pérez due to an Achilles rupture.
Porto’s recent form includes 17 goals conceded across all competitions, which could be a point of concern as they face Stuttgart’s attacking lineup. The match is crucial for both teams as they aim to gain momentum in European competition.
As the match approaches, fans are eager to see how Stuttgart will respond to their historical struggles and whether Porto can continue their dominance over German sides. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final lineups and any last-minute changes.
