VfB Stuttgart lost 1-2 at home to FC Porto in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16. After the match, Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav sharply criticized the opponents for unsportsmanlike behavior, claiming that one of the defenders went to ground as many as 37 times.

Stuttgart's home defeat

VfB Stuttgart lost 1-2 to FC Porto after goals from Moffi and Mora; the only goal for the hosts was scored by Undav.

Sharp criticism from Deniz Undav

Stuttgart striker accused Porto players, particularly Zaidu Sanusi, of repeatedly simulating injuries and time-wasting.

Refereeing controversies

Stuttgart players were unhappy with the referee for failing to react to provocations and the visitors' disruption of play.

VfB Stuttgart lost 1-2 at home to FC Porto in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 on March 12, 2026. The match at MHPArena attracted a full house of 60,000 fans, but the hosts failed to secure an advantage ahead of the return leg. Terem Moffi opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and just six minutes later Rodrigo Mora doubled the visitors' lead. Deniz Undav restored hope for the German team by scoring a consolation goal in the 40th minute, but despite efforts in the second half, the score remained unchanged. VfB Stuttgart is one of the largest sports clubs in Baden-Württemberg, which announced in July 2025 that it had surpassed 126,000 members. The team regularly competes in European cups, aiming to build on past successes on the international stage. The round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League in the 2025/2026 season is a significant step for the club in building its position in European football.

After the match, the behavior of the Portuguese players, which was sharply criticized by Stuttgart's goalscorer Deniz Undav, caused the most controversy. The German striker did not hide his frustration with the opponents' playing style in a post-match interview for RTL, accusing them of numerous provocations and deliberate time-wasting. He paid particular attention to the behavior of the visitors' left-back, suggesting that his falls to the ground were part of a planned tactic. „Ich glaube, der Linksverteidiger lag 37 Mal auf dem Boden wegen der gleichen Aktion” (I think the left-back was on the ground 37 times because of the same action) — Deniz Undav via RTL

The criticism from the hosts also concerned the referee's performance, which, according to Stuttgart players, allowed the visitors too much leeway. Deniz Undav emphasized that the referee did not react to the behavior of FC Porto players, despite being repeatedly alerted to it during the game. Midfielder Angelo Stiller expressed a similar opinion, admitting that he rarely sees a team play in such a specific and annoying manner as the Porto side. The frustration of VfB Stuttgart players stemmed from a sense of helplessness against the disruption of the game's rhythm at crucial moments of the match. 37 (razy) — number of falls by Porto defender according to Undav

The 1-2 defeat puts the German team in a difficult position ahead of the return leg in Portugal. Although match statistics indicate an evenly contested encounter, FC Porto's efficiency in the first half proved decisive for the outcome of this tie. Stuttgart will need to seek victory away from home to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition. UEFA Europa League Round of 16 (first leg): VfB Stuttgart 1:2 FC Porto Goalscorers in Stuttgart - Porto match: 1. Terem Moffi — 21'; 2. Rodrigo Mora — 27'; 3. Deniz Undav — 40'

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