VfB Stuttgart have left the relegation relegation zone in the Bundesliga and have gained further confidence ahead of the DFB-Pokal semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday (20:45 CET on the F.A.Z. live ticker for the DFB-Pokal and on ARD). The Swabians beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 (1-0) on Saturday to claim their first home win since mid-February.
Serhou Guirassy, who was later substituted due to injury, gave the home side the lead with a heel (22nd minute) before two penalties in the closing stages caused further excitement. First, Julian Weigl equalized after a handball by Dan-Axel Zagadou (78th). Then Tanguy Coulibaly put VfB back in the lead. Immediately before, Ko Itakura was shown the red card for preventing a clear scoring chance (82nd).
The team of the still unbeaten coach Sebastian Hoeneß benefited from the fact that VfL Bochum had picked up only one point against title contenders Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening (1-1). As a result, VfB climbs past Bochum to 15th place. The Gladbachers remained winless for the third time in a row and remain in the dreary midfield of the table.
Before kick-off, guest coach Daniel Farke had pointed out "the intensity that will emanate from Stuttgart". However, in front of 47,700 spectators, his team could not cope at all with the powerful start of the home team. VfB were grippy in the duels, appeared confident and kept looking for a way to the goal. Guirassy – even before the game the most accurate Stuttgart player this season – did not get control of the ball in a promising position (15th). Just a minute later, Atakan Karazor set a finish too high.
Farke kept gesticulating in his coaching zone and tried to shake his team awake – but to no avail. VfB dominated the action. With a shot by Enzo Millot, Jonas Omlin prevented the deficit (21st), but with Guirassy's goal, the goalkeeper could not intervene either. However, VfB only celebrated with a delay because the video referee spoke up about a possible offside position. Unlike in 22 of the previous 29 Bundesliga games, VfB did not fall behind this time.
Hardly any resistance from the Gladbachers
The Rhinelanders showed hardly any resistance even after the 0:1. In one of the few opportunities, Fabian Bredlow was on hand to replace Alassane Plea, who came into the starting line-up for the injured Marcus Thuram. VfB coach Hoeneß had given his players two days off after the 1-1 draw at FC Augsburg and gained the feeling "that the relationship between the unconditional will to win and looseness" fits. This impression was not deceiving. Buoyed by four competitive games without defeat, Stuttgart continued to exert pressure, but failed to add to their tally before the break.
The second half started painfully for the goalscorer. Guirassy had to leave the field after a collision with Gladbach captain Lars Stindl supported by VfB coaches and with a turban around his head.
But even after the personnel setback, Stuttgart had opponents and games under control. However, Zagadou, who had moved up, missed a more reassuring cushion (70th) and put his team in trouble a little later because he blocked a shot with his arm. Weigl converted the penalty kick and gave the disappointing Gladbachers hope for a short time. Substitute Coulibaly dashed that hope after Itakura fouled Tiago Tomás, who had come on as a substitute for Guirassy, in the penalty area. The Gladbachers did not recover from this quick response.