HNK Rijeka
| 1-0 | Benko | (74. Min) |
| 2-0 | Kvrzic | (87. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 2-1 | Ibisevic | (89. Min) |
Cacau
Stats 
1-2 first leg defeat
VfB were in control of the first leg tie against HNK Rijeka but proved too ineffective in front of goal and subsequently suffered a 1-2 defeat on the Adria. Vedad Ibisevic got on the score-sheet for Stuttgart shortly before the final whistle.
Bruno Labbadia didn’t just make personnel changes in comparison tot he side that faced Bayer 04 Leverkusen, but also opted for a tactical switch, employing an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Moritz Leitner and Cacau replacing Konstantin Rausch and Ibrahima Traoré in the starting eleven.
Martin Harnik hits the woodwork
In beautiful weather conditions and with a stunning atmosphere, Sven Ulreich was called into action after just six minutes, to prevent VfB from going behind early on. Soon after, HNK keeper Ivan Vargic had to prove his worth, making a save from a Cacau effort. VfB then came agonizingly close in the 28th minute, when Martin Harnik struck the post. Throughout the first half, VfB proved the better team but failed to make effective use of their opportunities and went in at the break with the score locked at 0-0.
Christian Gentner: "The goal gives us hope and if we can keep a clean sheet at the back, then I am positive about the rest for next week." Post match comments
VfB dominate, Rijeka take the lead
VfB again lorded the play in the early phases of t he second period but suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves 0-1 down in the 74th minute when Leon Benko headed his side in front. VfB answered with a couple of good chances, but a mixture of keeper Ivan Vargic and off-target shooting hindered the Bundesliga side. There were then further chances for Cristian Molinaro (79‘), Vedad Ibisevic (81‘) and substitute Alexandru Maxim but Stuttgart were unable to make their pressure count.
Tense closing phase
In spite of their best efforts, and with Alexandru Maxim once again going close (86‘), fortune was not on VfB’s side – a fact which became even clearer in the 87th minute, when Rijeka extended their advantage to 2-0 through Zoran Kvrzic. VfB reacted well to the shock and pulled back what could prove a vitally important away goal when Vedad Ibisevic got on the end of a Christian Gentner delivery to fling the door open for VfB in the return leg next week.
