You can rely on Serhou Guirassy: Even without the usual spectacle, VfB Stuttgart has firmly secured itself in the top group of the Bundesliga with its first away win of the season.
Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team won 3-1 (0-0) at FSV Mainz 05 on the fourth matchday thanks to a hat-trick from their unstoppable striker Guirassy (56th, 84th and 90th + 7) and moved up to one point close to the top teams Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich (both ten).
Guirassy became the first player in VfB history to score eight goals on the first four matchdays. At the same time, Stuttgart aggravated Mainz’s false start (one point), who, despite Leandro Barreiro’s goal (69th), have already gone nine games without a win across the season and could even slip to bottom of the table on Sunday.
Nübel with a strong save for VfB Stuttgart
VfB had never been without a spectacle before this season, on the first three matchdays against VfL Bochum (5:0), at RB Leipzig (1:5) and most recently against SC Freiburg (5:0). Spectators are offered at least five goals each. “Ultimately we have to collect points,” said coach Hoeneß in advance: “And if it means spectacle, so be it.”
In front of 30,500 spectators, the guests started in a dominant manner with a lot of pressure to move forward, but the first dangerous chance belonged to Mainz. However, VfB keeper Alexander Nübel quickly parried against starting eleven Marco Richter (9th). Otherwise, both teams initially found it difficult to create clear actions.
After conceding nine goals in the first three games, Mainz focused on defense as coach Bo Svensson announced and did not offer any space to Stuttgart’s counterattacking strength. The Swabians lacked ideas for solutions.
VfB’s best chance came from a blunder by Sepp van den Berg (38th): Guirassy made a hole in a promising situation, and Robin Zentner strongly defended the shot from Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who was standing behind.
Stuttgart also started the second half with a clear advantage in possession, increased the pressure – and Guirassy rewarded the guests after a mistake by Stefan Bell. A little later, Chris Führich (62′) caused danger twice after a counterattack, but Mainz now also dared more: first substitute Tom Krauß only hit the post (68′), shortly afterwards Barreiro poked the ball into the goal. The goal gave the Mainz team a noticeable boost, but then the outstanding Guirassy struck mercilessly twice more.