Football is a funny game. Sometimes the stats tell a lie, but other times, they scream the truth so loud you can’t ignore it. When Juventus faced VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Stadium on October 22, 2024, the final score of 1-0 didn’t even begin to tell the story. If you just looked at the app on your phone, you’d see a late winner and move on. But honestly? This was one of those nights where a "giant" got absolutely schooled on their own turf.
People talk about Juventus like they’re still this defensive fortress, especially under Thiago Motta's new regime. But Stuttgart? They didn't care about the history. They turned up in Turin and played like they owned the place.
The Night Mattia Perin Almost Broke the Script
If there is a reason this match didn't end 4-0 to the Germans, his name is Mattia Perin. Seriously. Usually, the backup keeper is just there to fill a seat, but with Michele Di Gregorio suspended, Perin stepped into a shooting gallery.
👉 See also: Why Hot Female Volleyball Players Are Dominating Global Sports Culture
Stuttgart peppered the Juve goal. They finished the game with 22 attempts. Ten of those were on target. Juve? They managed one. One single shot on target in 90 minutes at home. It was kind of embarrassing, to be fair.
Perin was making saves that felt like glitches in a video game. He tipped an Ermedin Demirović strike onto the post in the first half. He denied Deniz Undav. Then, the moment that should have secured him a statue outside the stadium: the penalty.
That 86th-Minute Chaos
The game spiraled in the final ten minutes. Danilo, who’s had a rough go of it lately, caught Anthony Rouault with a high boot in the box. Second yellow. Red card. Penalty for Stuttgart.
Enzo Millot stepped up. You could feel the air leave the stadium. Millot hit it well, but Perin guessed right, diving to his right to parry it away. The crowd went nuts. At that point, everyone thought, "Okay, Juve survives. It’s a scrappy 0-0, they’ll take the point and run."
Why El Bilal Touré Changed Everything
But football doesn't always reward the heroic keeper. In the 92nd minute, El Bilal Touré decided he’d seen enough.
🔗 Read more: West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur: What Most People Get Wrong
It was a beautiful bit of play, actually. A quick exchange with Millot—who, to his credit, didn't let the penalty miss get to his head—and Touré was through. He took a touch that took him past the defender and just lashed it into the corner. No chance for Perin this time.
The stadium went silent, except for a small, jubilant pocket of German fans.
- Final Score: Juventus 0-1 VfB Stuttgart
- Goal Scorer: El Bilal Touré (90+2')
- Key Stat: Stuttgart out-shot Juventus 22 to 7.
- The Red: Danilo (84')
Tactics: What Really Happened to Motta's Juve?
A lot of pundits were shocked. Juventus had won their first two Champions League games, including that wild comeback against RB Leipzig. They were supposed to be the favorites.
But Sebastian Hoeneß—the Stuttgart boss—basically outplayed Motta. Stuttgart’s press was suffocating. Every time Nicolò Fagioli or Khéphren Thuram tried to turn, there were three red shirts there.
Kenan Yıldız looked isolated. Dušan Vlahović was a ghost. Motta even tried a triple sub at the 55-minute mark, bringing on Manuel Locatelli, Andrea Cambiaso, and Timothy Weah. It didn't work. Stuttgart just kept coming.
The VAR Controversy
We have to talk about the Deniz Undav goal that wasn't. Early in the second half, Undav found the net. Stuttgart celebrated. Then the referee got that call in his ear.
VAR checked it for ages. Eventually, they ruled it out for a handball in the buildup. It was one of those "letter of the law" decisions that feels kinda harsh when you see it in real-time. But even that didn't break Stuttgart’s spirit. Most teams would fold after a disallowed goal and a missed penalty in Turin. They didn't.
The Aftermath and What It Means Now
This match was a reality check for Juventus. It showed that while they’ve improved under Motta, they aren't "back" yet. You can’t get outplayed that badly at home and expect to compete for the trophy.
For Stuttgart, it was a statement. It was their first win in this new Champions League format, and they did it by playing brave, attacking football. They didn't park the bus. They drove the bus right into Juve’s living room.
✨ Don't miss: ¿A qué hora juega el América hoy? Horarios, canales y lo que debes saber del partido
Actionable Takeaways from the Match
If you're following the Champions League this season, here is what this specific result taught us:
- Don't Sleep on the Bundesliga Mid-Table: Stuttgart finished 2nd last year, but people still treat them like underdogs. They are technically elite.
- Juve’s Depth Issues: Without Bremer (injured), the defense looks shaky. Danilo is struggling to keep up with the pace of modern European attackers.
- The Perin Factor: Mattia Perin is arguably the best "second-choice" goalkeeper in the world. If Di Gregorio isn't 100%, Juve are in safe hands, even if the result didn't go their way.
Watching that game back, it's clear that Stuttgart deserved every bit of that win. They were faster, hungrier, and tactically sharper. Juventus has plenty of work to do if they want to avoid these "banana skin" games in the future.
To really understand where Juventus is heading, keep a close eye on their defensive rotations in the next few Serie A rounds. The loss of Bremer is a massive hole that even a hero like Perin can't always plug. For Stuttgart, this win provides a blueprint: press high, trust your technical ability, and don't be afraid of the name on the front of the opponent's jersey.