With the next defeat, the situation of VfB Stuttgart in the fight against relegation from the Bundesliga becomes more and more tricky. The 0:1 (0:0) against VfL Wolfsburg was another damper for the Swabians on Saturday. In the long-distance duel with the competitors in the fight to stay in the class, the Swabians of coach Bruno Labbadia slipped to the last place in the table.
In front of 44,900 spectators, former VfB striker Omar Marmoush decided the game for Wolfsburg with his goal in the 56th minute. The Lower Saxony of coach Niko Kovac succeeded in the hoped-for success to keep the connection in the race for the international places. In the closing stages, Stuttgart demanded a penalty when substitute Enzo Millot shot Sebastiaan Bornauw – but referee Felix Brych decided against a penalty.
For Labbadia it was a disappointing reunion with his former club. In 2017/18, he had saved the Lower Saxony in the relegation from relegation and formed in the following season to the Europa League participant. But this duel is only special because his current employer, VfB, urgently needs three points, the coach had stressed before his tenth appearance with Stuttgart. Again, nothing came of it.
Vagnoman initially on the bench
New national player Josha Vagnoman has a difficult time with the 57-year-old Labbadia – and sat even after his first nomination for the upcoming international matches until after the deficit only on the bench. From there, the right-back had to watch a tough first half. After an uneventful opening quarter of an hour, there was only momentum for a short time with the first chances.
Stuttgart's Gil Dias forced Wolfsburg's Koen Casteels to a parade (16th). On the other side, VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow prevented Jakub Kaminski (17th) from falling behind with a brilliant reaction. Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha, like Vagnoman as one of five newcomers in the squad of national coach Hansi Flick, provided shortly before the break from the penalty area boundary for a finish (45.), but shot over. Labbadia had prepared himself for a "battle of attrition". He was proved right.
The Swabians have had to replace their best scorer Serhou Guirassy for weeks because of an adductor injury. Replacement at the top this time was again the actual winger Silas Katompa Mvumpa. However, VfB did not manage to integrate the attacker better into the game. Silas had hardly any ball contact, the flanks of Borna Sosa were not a suitable means and often found no takers.
Defensively, the hosts did not defend consistently against Marmoush. The Wolfsburg had space, marched and overcame VfB goalkeeper Bredlow from about 20 meters. Labbadia then changed four times, bringing Vagnoman, Enzo Millot, Tanguy Coulibaly and Tiago Tomas. But much more than a chance from Millot (77th) did not jump out – it was the first VfB opportunity in a long time. The second Wolfsburg goal by Kevin Paredes (64.) did not count because of an offside position.