VfB Stuttgart missed out on a home win against 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga after being in the lead.
After the 1:1 (0:0) VfB remains in third place in the table ahead of Borussia Dortmund. Cologne increased their lead slightly over the direct relegation zone, but remains in the relegation zone.
Cologne starts well, Stuttgart then superior
Cologne had the first chance: Jan Thielmann had a free path after a pass from Rasmus Carstensen and shot from a half-right position – but VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow parried (3rd minute).
As a result, Stuttgart were clearly superior, but only had a few real chances to score, which Woo-yeong Jeong (14th) and Enzo Millot (23rd) missed.
Millot scores Stuttgart’s 1-0, but Cologne responds
Cologne also started a little better in the second half. However, Stuttgart took the lead: Ex-Cologne player Chris Führich played a one-two with Hiroki Ito and put the ball from the left into the middle, where Millot only had to finish (53′). But FC found an answer: Linton Maina crossed from the right side after a corner that was actually blocked, Eric Martel took the ball with his left and scored with his right (62nd).
“Of course we would have liked a different result and above all I would have liked us to play better”said Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß on the ARD microphone: “We then score the goal, but then we missed something. There was a lack of precision and pressure.”
Cologne coach Timo Schultz explained on the Sportschau microphone: “This is an extraordinary point for morale.” His team invested a lot.
Cologne against Leverkusen, VfB has to go to Wolfsburg
1. FC Cologne expects Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the Rhenish duel on Sunday next week (March 3rd, 2024). VfB Stuttgart plays at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (6.30 p.m.).