VfB Stuttgart is still under pressure in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga with a 3-0 loss at 1. FC Union Berlin – now the coach is in question again.
The result of the 0: 3 (0: 0) at Union Berlin could be the third change of coach of the season. The TV station “Sky” and the “Bild” newspaper report on an imminent replacement of Bruno Labbadia in Stuttgart, and Markus Gisdol is being traded as a possible successor. Labbadia had succeeded Michael Wimmer in December, who had previously taken over from Pellegrino Matarazzo in October.
Stuttgart’s Wohlgemuth: “Will not find the sole culprit”
Sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth avoided a clear commitment to the coach. “It makes absolutely no sense to comment on personnel issues after the game out of frustration and emotion.”said Wohlgemuth. “We had three coaches, all with very different profiles. That means we won’t find the sole culprit. That’s why we’re going into the analysis tomorrow and talking about it calmly.”
VfB has been without a win for five games, and Labbadia has only managed one win in eleven league games so far. Stuttgart is currently bottom of the table with only 20 points after 26 games. Labbadia avoided questions about his future at the press conference after the game.
Stuttgart with a good first half
In the first half, Stuttgart was close to the lead and initially showed a good game. However, Dan-Axel Zagadou (29th minute) and Tiago Tómas (43rd) missed their chances, a goal by Juan José Perea was disallowed for a handball after being checked by the video assistant (34th).
Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot had to be treated for a long time after a duel in the 25th minute. He was hit in the larynx by Diogo Leite’s shoulder and lay there in a daze. In the end he was able to continue playing.
Union takes command after the break
After the break, however, Union took over the game. Kevin Behrens missed (48′), Sheraldo Becker then scored the lead after Jérôme Roussillon’s cross in the 51st minute.
Union Berlin secured third place by beating VfB Stuttgart.
Zagadou had missed the chance to equalize for Stuttgart (59th), and so Behrens increased to 2:0 (65th) with a dust collector. VfB broke up now, Stuttgart’s Genki Haraguchi deflected a cross from Behrens into his own goal when he tried to defend himself (68′).
With the home win, Union Berlin remains within striking distance of the top duo in the table and is thus heading towards another qualification for a European competition.
Both teams now have a chance of reaching the semi-finals in the DFB Cup
Both clubs now continue in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. Union Berlin plays Tuesday (04.04.2023, 6 p.m.) at Eintracht Frankfurt. Stuttgart has the chance to reach the semi-finals at 1. FC Nürnberg on Wednesday (6 p.m.).
In the Bundesliga, Berlin will play Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (April 8, 2023, 3:30 p.m.) and Stuttgart will meet VfL Bochum on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).