Bundesliga
Stuttgart clip Go Ahead Eagles' wings
VfB Stuttgart followed their previous European victory over Feyenoord with another winning display against Dutch opposition, dismantling Go Ahead Eagles in a dominant 4-0 win in the UEFA Europa League.
Go Ahead Eagles 0–4 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Leweling 20’ (assist: Undav), 0-2 Leweling 35’ (assist: Stiller), 0-3 El Khannouss 59’ (assist: Undav), 0-4 Bouanani 90’+3 (assist: Assignon)
Stuttgart dominated the first half, with the hosts struggling to get close to their slick passing. Having created a couple of half chances early on, they broke the deadlock after 20 minutes through Jamie Leweling, who finished off a lightning-quick passing move involving Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav.
That goal afforded Stuttgart some time to breathe having not taken their foot off the gas since the first whistle, during which time the Eagles failed to test them defensively. Leweling then took it upon himself to double his side’s lead, slotting the ball into the bottom corner from outside the area after carrying out a solo counter-attack.
While the hosts had slightly more of the ball in the second 45, they still were unable to create a clear opening. Bilal El Khannouss then went and put the result beyond them by adding Stuttgart's third. Substitute Badredine Bouanani topped off a comfortable win for Sebastian Hoeneß’s side right at the death, latching onto a brilliant Lorenz Assignon pass before coolly slotting home in additonal time.
With three league-phase games to go, VfB are among the seeded play-off places, albeit only a point outside the eight automatic qualification berths.
>>> See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures and results here!
Recap the win over Go Ahead below...
0 - 4(0 - 2)
Go Ahead Eagles
FINAL
Stuttgart
90' +1
vs
Three added minutes
The conclusion is in sight for Stuttgart.
88'
vs
Lazar Jovanović
Jamie Leweling
85'
vs
Badredine Bouanani
85'
vs
Pressure maintained
The hosts continue to swing in crosses, but to little effect.
83'
vs
Aske Adelgaard
75'
vs
Atakan Karazor
74'
vs
Angelo Stiller
74'
vs
Victor Edvardsen
80'
vs
Aske Adelgaard
Mathis Suray
80'
vs
Nikolas Nartey
Angelo Stiller
80'
vs
Badredine Bouanani
Deniz Undav
76'
vs
Close call
A low cross is fired in toward Edvardsen, but he's a couple of yards off the pace.
73'
vs
Hunting a fourth
Stuttgart continue to apply pressure to the Eagles, with Führich especially looking to stretch his legs against their tired defence.
71'
vs
Victor Edvardsen
Calvin Twigt
68'
vs
Chris Führich
Bilal El Khannouss
68'
vs
Luca Jaquez
Ramon Hendriks
65'
vs
Cruise control
Leweling pokes his finish against the 'keeper in a one-on-one situation, with Stuttgart appearing to have found another gear.
60'
vs
Giovanni van Zwam
Julius Dirksen
55'
vs
Visitors pushed back
The hosts are enjoying a spell of possession now, with Stuttgart sitting back within their own half. Sivertsen has impressed since his introduction for the Eagles.
52'
vs
James drags it wide
He has space just inside the area after being found by a Sivertsen cross, but he doesn't connect properly with his first time volley and sees it bounce wide.
46'
vs
Oskar Sivertsen
Kenzo Goudmijn
46'
vs
Evert Linthorst
Yassir Rahmouni
49'
vs
Better start
A deflected cross requires Nübel to come out and claim it, with the hosts looking determined to provide more of a test this half.
46'
vs
The action returns
The secon 45 is now underway.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
37'
vs
Dean James
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
vs
Skills show from El Khannouss
The midfield gem embarrasses a couple of defenders with his trickery, showing just how exciting he can be to watch.
40'
vs
Finding their range
The hosts venture forward and the ball falls to Twigt outside the area, but he fires his shot well wide.
33'
vs
Tempo dropping
The game has certainly mellowed, with Stuttgart not showing the same urgency on the ball and the Eagles struggling to create.
28'
vs
Showing glimpses
The hosts go from back to front with a neat passing move, showing how effective they can be, but they've so far struggled to maintain possession and build momentum.
24'
vs
Inviting pressure
The Eagles almost repeat their error for the first goal, giving the ball away just a few metres away from their own box. Undav can't punish them this time, however.
16'
vs
Leweling tests de Busser
He breaks free down the left and drives into the area, before firing his effort too close to the 'keeper who saves from close range.
14'
vs
Momentum switching
The visitors have struggled to keep hold of the ball the past couple of minutes and the Eagles are beginning to ask questions of their backline.
10'
vs
Straightforward save
Stiller finds the head of Undav with a whipped cross but the forward doesn't get enough contact on the ball, and de Busser collects easily.
8'
vs
Leweling looking sharp
He turns his man just inside his own half before making his way into their penalty area, but a loose touch allows the defender to recover.
5'
vs
Finding their feet
The visitors are moving the ball nicely, with Undav almost threading a through ball to Stiller in a great position just moments ago.
3'
vs
Hendriks heads over
El Khannouss fizzes a ball into the box from the right and finds the defender, who can't keep his header down from a central position.
1'
vs
Off we go!
And it's Stuttgart who get the action started.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Intriguing preparations
Both sides conceded three or more goals in the lead up to this fixture, with Stuttgart conceding three in their enthralling encounter with Dortmund, while the hosts conceded four in their loss to Heracles Almelo, who sit second bottom in the Eredivisie. Despite conceding more than they would've liked to against BVB, Stuttgart currently sit in fifth, just three points off second placed RB Leipzig.
vs
Go Ahead Eagles starting line-up
de Busser - Deijl (c), Dirksen, Kramer, James - Meulensteen, Twigt, Rahmouni - Goudmijn, Suray, Smit
vs
Go Ahead Eagles subs
Jansen, Plogmann, Verdoni, Adelgaard, van Zwam, Breum, Linthorst, V. Edvardsen, Pettersson, Sivertsen, Stokkers
vs
Stuttgart starting line-up
Nübel - Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendriks - Assignon, Karazor (c), Stiller, Mittelstädt - El Khannouss, Leweling - Undav