Sinsheim (dpa) – VfB Stuttgart does not want to be defeated even after the next severe setback in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.
“It’s extremely, extremely bitter that we go home with zero points after this game,” said coach Pellegrino Matarazzo after the 1-2 (0-0) at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim with two late goals conceded by Christoph Baumgartner (85. and 90th minute). “The team is down, that’s clear. But the team is alive. We’ll get up again tomorrow and we’ll be in the condition to win the game again next week against Gladbach, like today,” said the 44-year-old.
Only last weekend did the Swabians concede a penalty in added time in the 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum. Now they were in the lead for a long time in the gripping and hard-fought duel between the two national rivals thanks to a goal by Wataru Endo (58th). But the Austrian Baumgartner made sure that VfB have been without a three for nine games and are still hanging on the penultimate place in the table.
Baumgartner lets himself be celebrated
In the end, there was a lack of order in the Stuttgart back line. In front of 18,099 spectators in the Sinsheim stadium, which was not sold out – 22,000 were allowed – the Austrian national player Baumgartner was allowed to be celebrated as the match winner. Then the consistently loud 2200 VfB fans in the guest block fell silent.
So the Stuttgarters are more threatened than ever with the next step into the second division after 2016 and 2019. “It’s brutally bitter today. If you can’t take three points, then you have to at least take the point. We didn’t do that again,” said Pascal Stenzel on the DAZN streaming service and said self-critically: “I think we became passive towards the end.”
Twelfth victory for Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim have already collected 21 points this season after falling behind – the best in the league. And it was the twelfth win, which is already more than in the entire previous season with eleven. At least for the time being, the team of head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has improved to a place in the Champions League.
No wonder Baumgartner praised his team extensively. “The mentality that we show, the team spirit that we show are definitely ready for the Champions League,” said the dangerous offensive man. Of course he also warned: “We still have to keep working hard.”
Hoeneß did not want to talk about the premier class yet. “If we have the 30th or 31st matchday and are in an exciting situation, then maybe I’ll be a bit offensive there,” promised the son of former VfB manager Dieter Hoeneß.