Stiller leads Champions League in line-breaking passes as Stuttgart's wastefulness deepens crisis
Hoeneß's project hits its roughest patch
Sebastian Hoeneß has transformed VfB Stuttgart since his 2023 arrival, but the Swabians are enduring their toughest spell under the coach. Four defeats in six Bundesliga matches have left Die Schwaben playing catch-up, and Saturday's 1-0 loss at Hamburg only deepened the frustration.
Yet results have not always reflected performances. In the heart of Hoeneß's midfield, Angelo Stiller continues to operate at the near-elite level that has become his hallmark — a fact underscored by a remarkable Opta statistic that highlights both his influence and the glaring problems for those wearing the Brustring.
A continent-leading metric
According to Opta, Stiller has made 51 line-breaking passes in the Champions League this season — more than any other player in the competition. To put that into perspective, Paris Saint-Germain's midfield had registered 227 such passes ahead of last season's final; Stiller reached 51 after just two matches. VfB opened their European campaign against Viking Stavanger and Slovan Bratislava, and tougher tests await, but the German midfielder's influence is unmistakable.
His contribution is not confined to Europe. Stiller provided both assists in the 2-0 win over Paderborn and has registered 65 line-breaking passes and created 10 chances across 483 Bundesliga minutes in 2026/27.
Stuttgart's continental form offers a stark contrast to their domestic struggles. Hoeneß's side won both opening Champions League fixtures — defeating Viking Stavanger and beating Slovan Bratislava 3-0 on 14 October 2026, when Deniz Undav ended a barren run by scoring his first goal of the campaign, teed up by Stiller from some 35 yards. Full-back Josha Vagnoman also went close against keeper Takac before the break. Prior reporting on 18 October 2026 had noted Undav was still without a league goal after six appearances, underlining the split between Stuttgart's European reprieve and their Bundesliga crisis.
Wasteful in front of goal
For all of Stiller's craft, Stuttgart have failed to convert it. According to FotMob, VfB have generated 12.3 expected goals in the Bundesliga so far — the sixth-highest figure in the division — but have scored just eight times. They have created 24 big chances (third-highest behind Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen) yet missed 21.
Saturday's defeat at the Volksparkstadion was the most glaring example. Stuttgart fired 24 shots, held 66% possession and generated 2.31 xG without scoring. Ermedin Demirovic was particularly wasteful, spurning several promising openings, while Deniz Undav was denied by the woodwork and an inspired Daniel Heuer Fernandes.
A balance problem
While attention has fallen on the finishing, defensive frailties have also plagued VfB. Hoeneß's side have conceded ten goals in six Bundesliga matches, with the opening-day rout at Bayern Munich and last month's loss to Hoffenheim exposing vulnerabilities.
The summer arrival of Grischa Prömel reshaped the midfield, with former captain Atakan Karazor initially dropping out. Prömel offers more going forward than Karazor, but the Stiller-Prömel axis has not shielded the back line, leaving VfB vulnerable in transition. Karazor has since returned against Paderborn and Hamburg, yet the open, basketball-match patterns persisted.
Hoeneß has persisted with a strike partnership, pushing Bilal El Khannouss wide or to the bench, while neither Prömel nor Karazor has yet proved a suitable foil for Stiller. The answer may lie in a role for Chema Andres, or El Khannouss in a more familiar central berth, to restore the equilibrium lost since the Undav-Demirovic pairing stalled.
Stiller, 25, continues to perform at a level few midfielders in Europe can match for breaking lines. But if Stuttgart are to arrest their slide, the balance around him — not his output — is the problem that must be solved first. Atletico Madrid visit the Neckarstadion on Tuesday evening, offering a chance to right the wrongs of a troubled start.