VfB Stuttgart has left the relegation zone in the Bundesliga and continued to gain self-confidence ahead of the semi-finals in the DFB Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Swabians won 2-1 (1-0) against Borussia Mönchengladbach and thus clinched their first home win since mid-February.
Serhou Guirassy, ??who was later replaced injured, gave the home side the lead with a heel (22nd minute) before two penalties in the final stages caused a stir again. First, Julian Weigl equalized after a handball from Dan-Axel Zagadou (78th). Then Tanguy Coulibaly brought VfB back into the lead. Immediately before that, Ko Itakura saw the red card for preventing a clear chance to score (82′).
The team of coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who is still unbeaten, benefited from the fact that VfL Bochum only clinched 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 without a win for the third time in a row and remain in the middle of the table.
Guirassy with the first goal
Guest coach Daniel Farke had pointed out “the intensity that will emanate from Stuttgart” before kick-off. However, in front of 47,700 spectators, his team couldn’t cope at all with the home side’s powerful start. The VfB was handy in the duels, appeared self-confident and always looked for the way to the goal. Guirassy – the most accurate Stuttgart player this season even before the game – was unable to control the ball in a promising position (15′). Just a minute later, Atakan Karazor overshot a finish.
Farke kept gesturing in his coaching zone and tried to wake up his team – but without success. VfB determined what happened. Jonas Omlin prevented a shot from Enzo Millot from falling behind (21′), but the goalkeeper was unable to intervene when Guirassy scored. However, VfB only celebrated with a delay because the video referee reported a possible offside position. Unlike in 22 of the previous 29 Bundesliga games, VfB didn’t fall behind this time.
Gladbach with a disappointing performance
The Rhinelanders showed little resistance even after the 0:1. On one of the few opportunities, Fabian Bredlow was there against Alassane Plea, who slipped into the starting XI for the injured Marcus Thuram. VfB coach Hoeneß gave 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 relaxation” was right. This impression was not deceptive. Buoyed by four competitive games unbeaten, Stuttgart continued to press but failed to step up before the break.
The second round started painfully for the scorer. After a collision with Gladbach captain Lars Stindl, Guirassy had to leave the field with support from VfB supervisors and a turban around his head.
But even after the personal setback, the Stuttgart opponents and the game were under control. However, Zagadou, who had moved up, missed a more reassuring cushion (70th) and put his team under pressure a little later because he blocked a shot with his arm. Weigl converted the penalty kick and briefly gave Gladbach, who were disappointing overall, hope. Substitute Coulibaly dashed that hope after Itakura fouled Tiago Tomás, who came on for Guirassy, ??in the penalty area. The Gladbachers never recovered from this quick answer.
