From BZ/dpa
VfB Stuttgart and top scorer Serhou Guirassy have continued their run in the Bundesliga and further exacerbated Union Berlin’s crisis.
The Swabians won 3-0 (1-0) at the Berliners on Saturday and extended the best start in the club’s history with their sixth win in a row. With 21 points after eight games, VfB remains second in the table.
In front of 22,012 spectators in the sold-out An der Alten Försterei stadium, Guirassy scored his 14th goal of the season for coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team. Shortly before the end, substitutes Silas Katompa Mvumpa (81′) and Deniz Undav (88′) increased the score. The Köpenickers suffered their eighth competitive defeat in a row and are stuck in the lower region of the table.
It is by far the longest losing streak for the Iron Men under coach Urs Fischer and the first time that the team went three first division home games in a row without a point. The Berliners face their next difficult task on Tuesday in the Champions League home game against SSC Naples (9 p.m./DAZN).
Union and Stuttgart, opponents in the Bundesliga relegation games in 2019, have swapped roles so far this season. VfB, which has been in danger of relegation in recent years, is surprisingly at the top. The Berliners, who stormed into the premier class last season, have to cope with a negative series that has never been seen under Fischer.
At least the sorely missed Rani Khedira and Robin Knoche returned to the starting eleven after injury breaks at Union. Three days after the end of the trip to the USA with the German national team, Robin Gosens and Kevin Behrens were also on the field from the start – as was Chris Führich at VfB.
The Swabians’ high pressing caused problems for the home team from the first minute. Guirassy took advantage of the first real opportunity. Anthony Rouault was able to play chipball undisturbed. The most dangerous attacker in the league was not consistently disturbed by Knoche and headed in confidently.
The Guinea international was the first professional to score 14 goals in the first eight matchdays of a Bundesliga season. In the 29th minute, the 27-year-old had to leave the field injured. He had previously been treated after a duel. The game remained without any further highlights in the first half. The Union team in particular seemed unsettled and disappointed offensively.
Fischer reacted and brought the quick Sheraldo Becker and David Fofana into play. The pace was good for the Berlin offensive, but the last pass was too imprecise. But the people of Stuttgart also got more rooms. Undav narrowly missed making it 2-0. Fofana missed Union’s best chance after a low cross from Becker (79′). Katompa Mvumpa and Undav decided the game after Union’s Diogo Leite was uncertain.