Here's hoping Stuttgart can maintain the excellent play that they performed in the first half of the season (Hinrunde). They'd better get their act together fast, because they're not getting Guirassy back for another month!
Weeks 17 and 18: 11-1-6 34 points Borussia M-gladbach 3-1 VfB Stuttgart Bochum 1-0 VfB Two away losses in a row. Vagnoman goal (Leweling assist) in the first match, and a shutout in the second. Good thing Stuttgart got to 34 points in the first half of the season because now they will drop in the table. Only six more points and they should be safe from relegation. Goals - Assists Guirassy 17 - 1 Undav 9 - 3 Führich 5 - 5 Silas 3 - 2 Millot 2 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 3 Stiller 0 - 3 Vagnoman 1 - 1 Leweling 0 - 2 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Mittelstädt 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Anton 0 - 1 Rouault 0 - 1 Goals scored: 38 Goals conceded: 23 Clean sheets: 5
Weeks 19: 12-1-6 37 points VfB stopped the losing streak with a thumping 5-2 home win over Red Bull Leipzig. Undav scored a hattrick (3) of goals, one of which was assisted by a Führich cross. Millot converted a PK and Leweling stabbed in a header from Vagnoman. Now on 37 points, VfB are 3 shy of safety. Goals - Assists Guirassy 17 - 1 Undav 12 - 3 Führich 5 - 6 Silas 3 - 2 Millot 3 - 2 Vagnoman 1 - 2 Leweling 1 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 3 Stiller 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Mittelstädt 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Anton 0 - 1 Rouault 0 - 1 Goals scored: 43 Goals conceded: 25 Clean sheets: 5
IINM, this is VfB's first win against RB, ever! We only had two draws against them, and all others were losses! This is a heckuva way to head into the Rückrunde. Weiter so, Jungs!
Let's see if this link to the highlights works: https://www.espn.com/core/video/iframe/_/id/39401223/
Weeks 20: 13-1-6 40 points VfB went to their neighbor SC Freiburg and came away with a 1-3 road victory. That makes a sweep this season against a squad they haven't done well against for several seasons. Man of the Match Denis Undav scored the first goal (Anton assist), and then set up the other two goals, by Führich and Mittelstädt. Now on 40 points, we can forget about relegation and play for a Champions League spot. Goals - Assists Guirassy 17 - 1 Undav 13 - 5 Führich 6 - 6 Silas 3 - 2 Millot 3 - 2 Vagnoman 1 - 2 Leweling 1 - 2 Mittelstädt 1 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 3 Stiller 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Anton 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Rouault 0 - 1 Goals scored: 46 Goals conceded: 26 Clean sheets: 5
VfB were knocked out the DFB Pokal today by Bayer Leverkusen 3-2. Winning goal came in minute 90. Anton and Führich with the goals, assisted by Stiller and Millot.
I wasn't able to watch today, I had a business appointment followed by a doctor's appointment shortly thereafter. I wanted VfB to go through and possibly win the Pokal, but now that they're out, I'd like to see them concentrate on Champions League for next year. That may be enough to get Guirassy to extend, I don't know.
Weeks 21: 14-1-6 43 points Home win 3-1 over relegation candidates Mainz, with Guirassy returning to lineup in the second half. Goals from Mittelstadt (Stenzel assist), Leweling (Stenzel), and Undav (Roualt). Apparently Undav is the highest-scoring German in footie now; perhaps he is the one Bayern Munich will try to buy in the summer. Goals - Assists Undav 14 - 5 Guirassy 17 - 1 Führich 6 - 6 Silas 3 - 2 Millot 3 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 5 Leweling 2 - 2 Mittelstädt 2 - 2 Vagnoman 1 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Anton 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Goals scored: 49 Goals conceded: 27 Clean sheets: 5
Weeks 22: 15-1-6 46 points VfB win a very long and ill-tempered match away to Darmstadt 0-2. The first half had a 20-minute delay partway through due to the "tennis ball protest", and then Stenzel was sent off for two yellow cards at the 68' halftime. First half goal headed in by Guirassy from an Anton headed pass. In the final minutes Dahoud scored off a post rebound shot from Millot, and then Darmstadt scored right at the very end. Goals - Assists Guirassy 18 - 1 Undav 14 - 5 Führich 6 - 6 Silas 3 - 2 Millot 3 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 5 Leweling 2 - 2 Mittelstädt 2 - 2 Vagnoman 1 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Anton 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 51 Goals conceded: 28 Clean sheets: 5
22 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first-half! I understand the fans not wanting to sell Bundesliga media rights to an outside investor, but that was crazy!
VfB v Koln, 0-0 at the half. VfB had lots of chances in the first half that just went begging. Undav in the stands with an injury, Guirassy started as striker and Jeong on right wing.
Weeks 23: 15-2-6 47 points VfB drop two points at home in 1-1 draw against Köln. The visitors played a tight man-to-man defense and worked hard to plug the middle, and broke fast. VfB were too predictable on offense, building too slowly which gave the defense time to set up. Millot goal from Führich assist. Goals - Assists Guirassy 18 - 1 Undav 14 - 5 Führich 6 - 7 Millot 4 - 2 Silas 3 - 2 Stenzel 0 - 5 Leweling 2 - 2 Mittelstädt 2 - 2 Vagnoman 1 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Anton 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 52 Goals conceded: 29 Clean sheets: 5
That was a painful miss in the second half, when Millot had an open shot from the edge of the six yard box. He put it too close to the keeper with so much open goal to aim for. There wasn't much urgency to bring the ball forward, so they didn't create more shots than Köln after that, despite a majority of the possession.
Weeks 24: 16-2-6 50 points VfB won away at Wolfsburg 2-3 in a match that I wasn't able to watch. Guirassy with a brace of goals, one a PK and the other assisted by Mittelstadt. Vagnoman got the match winner off an assist from Leweling. Bayern drew so now Stuttgart are only 4 points behind them, and Bayern are 7 behind Bayer Leverkusen who have a match in hand. Could this be the season to end Bayern's chokehold on the Bundesliga?? Goals - Assists Guirassy 20 - 1 Undav 14 - 5 Führich 6 - 7 Millot 4 - 2 Silas 3 - 2 Leweling 2 - 3 Mittelstädt 2 - 3 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Anton 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Karazor 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 55 Goals conceded: 31 Clean sheets: 5
I was hoping VfB would compete for the championship, but they'd have to win out, now, and I don't think they will. However, after all the flirtation with relegation the last several years, I'll gladly take second, or third place.
Qualifying for the UEFA Champions League the season after battling in the relegation playoff is a MASSIVE improvement, and Sebastian Hoeneß should be in line for Trainer of the Year.
Weeks 25: 17-2-6 53 points Fairly comfortable home win 2-0 over Union Berlin. Karazor through ball set up Guirassy for first-time shot, 1-0. And then Führich took a botched clearance and sent a shot into the opposite side of the goal mouth. Nübel with a clean sheet. Goals - Assists Guirassy 21 - 1 Undav 14 - 5 Führich 7 - 7 Millot 4 - 2 Silas 3 - 2 Leweling 2 - 3 Mittelstädt 2 - 3 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Anton 0 - 3 Karazor 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 57 Goals conceded: 31 Clean sheets: 6
Weeks 26: 18-2-6 56 points Fairly easy 0-3 away win at Hoffenheim. Denis Undav was the setup man, assisting on goals by Millot and Guirassy. Leweling got the final goal. Clean sheet for Nübel. Goals - Assists Guirassy 22 - 1 Undav 14 - 7 Führich 7 - 7 Millot 5 - 2 Leweling 3 - 3 Silas 3 - 2 Mittelstädt 2 - 3 Stenzel 0 - 5 Vagnoman 2 - 2 Stiller 0 - 3 Anton 0 - 3 Karazor 0 - 3 Ito 0 - 2 Jeong 0 - 2 Rouault 0 - 2 Zagadou 1 - 0 Dahoud 1 - 0 Goals scored: 60 Goals conceded: 31 Clean sheets: 7
I'm looking forward to it, too. https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2324/sebastian-hoeness-vor-vfb-heidenheim-2324/
VfB Stuttgart 3-3 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 in full time. Got wild late. We very nearly let this one slip away. What a match, though. Exciting. https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bunde...-stuttgart-vs-1-fc-heidenheim-1846/liveticker
Just got back from church, I thought this might be a trap game, but we would win anyway. I'll have to look for a replay.