VfB Stuttgart got off to a successful start in the new season. The Bundesliga soccer club won the DFB Cup 4-0 (3-0) at the fourth division club TSG Balingen and entered the second round a week before the start of the first division.
In the Swabian duel, Enzo Millot gave the three-time cup winner the lead in the 25th minute. In addition, Silas (34′), Serhou Guirassy (43′) and captain Wataru Endo (55′) scored in front of 13,400 spectators in the sold-out Reutlinger Stadium.
The game was moved to Reutlingen because the arena in Balingen is too small for the cup competition. Thanks to its DFB Cup premiere, the regional league can console itself with an income in the lower six-digit euro range over the defeat.
Nübel makes his competitive debut
Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, on loan from FC Bayern Munich, made his competitive debut for VfB and was the only newcomer in the starting XI. VfB trainer Sebastian Hoeneß relied on a back four with the two central defenders Waldemar Anton and Dan-Axel Zagadou in defense of last year’s cup semi-finalists. On the left Hiroki Ito defended instead of the suspended Borna Sosa, on the right Pascal Stenzel represented the injured international Josha Vagnoman.
Stuttgart initially found it difficult to attack against the low-lying hosts at the start of their competitive game. It only became dangerous with a shot by Chris Führich (19th). But then it was the agile Millot who, after a pass from Silas, put the increasingly confident Stuttgart 1-0 down the road to victory. A little later, the committed Silas increased with a nice flick from 25 meters against the bravely fighting but overwhelmed amateurs from Balingen.
The game was decided at the latest when Endo scored after a one-two with the strong Guirassy. Substitute Pedro Almeida Morais missed Balingen’s greatest chance to score, but he was denied by Nübel, who made a brilliant save (85′).
After just over an hour, Hoeneß took the opportunity to give two more newcomers, offensive players Wooyeong Jeong and Jamie Leweling, match practice before the start of the Bundesliga next Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) against VfL Bochum. In the closing stages, another newcomer made his debut in striker Jovan Milosevic.
