VfB Stuttgart's Historic Champions League Debut

A Memorable Journey in the 2003/04 Season

Group Stage Progression and a Round of 16 Triumph

VfB Stuttgart made a remarkable debut in the reformatted 32-team Champions League in the 2003/04 season. Having progressed from the group stage, they stunned the football world with a surprising victory in the Round of 16.

The German side faced stiff competition in their group, which included Manchester United, Rangers, and Panathinaikos. Stuttgart emerged as group winners with an impressive record of 8 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, earning them a berth in the knockout stages.

In the Round of 16, Stuttgart faced off against the mighty Chelsea. Despite being underdogs, Stuttgart pulled off a historic upset. They defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge and held them to a 0-0 draw in the second leg at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, securing a memorable victory that sent them into the quarterfinals.

Stuttgart's dream run came to an end in the quarterfinals, where they suffered a narrow defeat to AC Milan. Nevertheless, their performance in the Champions League that season remains a proud moment in the club's history.

Several key players contributed to Stuttgart's success, including Imre Szabics, Kevin Kuranyi, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Their goalscoring prowess and overall team spirit played a crucial role in the team's unforgettable European adventure.