Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart turns 0:2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach

“foals” in crisis

Thanks to high morale and the strong returnee Sasa Kalajdzic, VfB Stuttgart celebrated an enormously important victory in the relegation battle. After a 0:2 draw, the Swabians still managed to draw 3:2 (1:2) against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening. VfB captain Wataru Endo (38′), Chris Führich (51′) and Kalajdzic (83′), who was back in the starting XI, scored for the hosts in front of 25,000 spectators after Alassane Plea (14′) and Marcus Thuram (35′) the Gladbachers had apparently taken the lead safely.

In the table, VfB moved up to one point behind Hertha BSC in the relegation rank of relegation. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team found new hope. Coach Adi Hütter’s Gladbachers, on the other hand, failed to distance themselves further from the relegation zone.

VfB started lively on the offensive. Borna Sosa missed a pass from Hiroki Ito from five meters (10th). Tiago Tomás was annoyed that he couldn’t get past the parrying Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Plea then showed how it could be done better: After a one-two with Florian Neuhaus, he quickly pulled away. Goalkeeper Florian Müller was on the ball, but couldn’t prevent the deficit.

It’s about “leaving everything we have physically, mentally, here on the pitch and trying to win the game,” Matarazzo said in a Sky interview before the game. His hope on the offensive is Kalajdzic. After his calf problems, in Hoffenheim he had only been substituted on, the Austrian started from the start this time. But Kalajdzic also missed a good chance with a header (24′).

On the other side, the guests showed the efficiency that VfB lacked in the next fine attack: Thuram, who was lurking behind Sosa, executed Plea’s pass into the six-yard box. However, the Swabians were not shocked by the 0:2 and at least tried successfully before the break. Endo came back after a failed attempt by Rami Bensebaini to clear the ball.

After the change of sides, the Stuttgarters quickly nurtured the fans’ hopes: Führich only had to dust off Kalajdzic’s cross with a header. The offensive player had recovered in time after his knee injury. The table penultimate was then the better team, but did not reward themselves: Tiago Tomás failed free-standing to Sommer (67th). Little came from the Gladbachers until Neuhaus tested VfB keeper Müller (71st). Omar Marmoush failed with a header for VfB (79′), then Kalajdzic’s goal caused thunderous celebrations in the Stuttgart stadium. It was the first three after nine winless league games.

And then it’s over. VfB wins after a strong fight against Gladbach and secures three immensely important points! Strong guys!#VfB | #VfBBMG 3:2 pic.twitter.com/pFmka6XptG

— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) March 5, 2022

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