Stuttgart omit shirt sponsor in matches against Real Madrid and Juventus

The German club had recently announced that they will not have a shirt sponsor for the 2022/23 season

VfB Stuttgart will play their upcoming Champions League matches against Real Madrid and Juventus without a shirt sponsor, the club confirmed.

Die Schwaben had announced in June that they would go into the 2022/23 season without a main sponsor on their shirts, after their previous deal with Mercedes-Benz expired.

Stuttgart will instead use their shirts to promote their own initiatives and campaigns, starting with a message of solidarity with Ukraine in their first Champions League group match away to Madrid on Wednesday.

The club said in a statement: "For the first Champions League match of the new season, VfB Stuttgart will send a clear message of solidarity with Ukraine. The slogan 'Help for Ukraine' will be emblazoned on the chests of the VfB players instead of a main sponsor."

"The proceeds from the campaign will be donated to the Ukraine emergency aid of the action alliance 'Help for Ukraine'. With the action, VfB Stuttgart wants to draw attention to the ongoing war and the associated suffering of the civilian population in Ukraine," the statement added.

Stuttgart are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2009, having finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season.