On the fourth matchday of the Europa League, VfB Stuttgart defeated Feyenoord Rotterdam and celebrated their second win in the league phase.
With two late goals, VfB Stuttgart defeated the Feyenoord Rotterdam team on Thursday evening (November 6th). Although the Dutch had more goals on goal for a long time, VfB struck in the final phase and celebrated a 2-0 home win thanks to goals from Bilal El Khannouss (84th) and Deniz Undav (90th + 1).
Feyenoord with more offensive drive in the first half
The first surprise came in Stuttgart a few minutes before kick-off: Luca Jaquez was unable to play at short notice due to adductor problems, so Josha Vagnoman replaced him in the starting line-up. And Vagnoman was directly involved in one of the Swabians’ first approaches to goal when he passed the ball to Deniz Undav, who then aimed his shot way too high (12th minute). Feyenoord had the best chance of the opening quarter of an hour. Anis Hadj Moussa dribbled into the penalty area from half-right, allowed Maximilian Mittelstädt to get out and then his shot was missed by VfB keeper Alexander Nübel (14th).
As a result, the Dutch put more pressure on the VfB goal, but rarely found a target with their crosses from the wings and also made some attacks too complicated. VfB lacked precision in their forward play and too many balls in the final third ended up in the opponent’s feet.
Things got tricky in stoppage time in the first half. Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther played a 70-meter dream pass into the path of Hadj Moussa, who was brought down by Mittelstädt centimeters from the edge of the penalty area. Referee Horatiu Fesnic showed the VfB defender not red but yellow because Finn Jeltsch could have intervened at the same height. Hadj Moussa hit the subsequent free kick into the Stuttgart wall, so the break went goalless.
Wellenreuther shows strong saves
After the break the same picture: Feyenoord had more of the game, played more courageously forward, but regularly got stuck on one of Stuttgart’s defensive legs. VfB tried to be successful through a quick transition game and earned a free kick in the 56th minute after Deniz Undav was brought down by Givairo Read on the way to the goal. Here, too, there was another Feyenoord player nearby, and here too the foul was yellow instead of red. The free kick then landed indirectly at Bilal El Khannouss, who forced Timon Wellenreuther into a save with his right-footed shot.
The most noticeable player on the pitch was Anis Hadj Moussa. In the 62nd minute he fed Ayase Ueda with a cross, the Japanese headed the ball past the right post of the VfB goal. The VfB fans were screaming for goal in the 69th minute when Undav appeared free in front of former KSC keeper Wellenreuther after a nice pass from El Khannouss, but was then unable to overcome him. After Wellenreuther’s save, Undav crossed the second ball to Jamie Leweling, who headed wide from close range.
El Khannouss and Undav make VfB cheer
Much in Stuttgart pointed to a draw, but then came the 84th minute: Lorenz Assignon crossed the ball from the right side perfectly onto the head of El Khannouss, who powerfully headed the ball under the crossbar and from there into the goal. The 1-0 scoreline in front of the Cannstatter Kurve caused the stadium to shake; the cheers must have been heard three parts of the city away.
Coach Robin van Persie’s guests tried everything again to equalize, but then made the decision on the counterattack. In the first minute of injury time, VfB launched a counterattack, at the end of which Chris Führich crossed to Deniz Undav, who only had to push in to make the final score 2-0.
VfB welcomes Augsburg in the Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart continues with the Bundesliga home game against FC Augsburg. Kick-off is on Sunday (November 9th) at 5:30 p.m. After the international break, we continue with an away game at Borussia Dortmund (November 22nd) before going to the Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer in the Europa League (November 27th).
Broadcast on Thursday, November 6th, 2025, 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
