Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0 at Rams Park in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, handing Stuttgart their first defeat of the current Champions League season.
Spalt makes Champions League debut
Yanik Spalt, a 19-year-old Austrian, made his first Champions League appearance against Galatasaray and played 72 minutes. He has been in the squad for 11 of Stuttgart's 14 competitive matches.
Spalt made his first-team debut with a late appearance off the bench at home against 1. FC Köln on matchday two of the Bundesliga season. He played 55 minutes away at Hoffenheim a week after his debut.
Deniz Undav, a team-mate, said in the heat of the moment: “That was top-class.” He added: “I felt like he was an old hand. He wanted every ball, went into the challenges, wanted to turn with it. Hats off to him. And to do that in that stadium, with that atmosphere.”
Hoeneß and Wohlgemuth respond
Coach Sebastian Hoeneß said Spalt had “put himself forward for further appearances” and described him as “exceptionally good, assured”.
Fabian Wohlgemuth, managing director for sport, said: “There are quieter places to make a Champions League debut. He went into a challenge straight after coming on, committed to it and won it. Those are moments you go over at night. To be so ready in a match like that is exceptional. It was a very special moment for him.”
Wohlgemuth said pre-season offered the first sign that Spalt would play a bigger role for Stuttgart's first team this season, describing him as “very, very good”.
Stuttgart's personnel situation
Atakan Karazor left the pitch in the 17th minute with thigh discomfort and suffered a muscle contusion against Galatasaray. Stiller is out until further notice with an injury in the adductor area; he came off at half-time in the DFB Cup match at SC Paderborn a week and a half ago.
Stuttgart signed Grischa Prömel on a free transfer from TSG Hoffenheim early in the summer transfer window. Chema Andres left Stuttgart late in the transfer window, with Brighton & Hove Albion paying Stuttgart around €22 million for him on deadline day.
Stuttgart's results
Stuttgart have collected seven points from their first three Champions League matches. They also beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-2 in the Bundesliga.
Jamie Leweling hit the woodwork twice early on.
