Bundesliga
Jamie Leweling scored twice as VfB Stuttgart gave their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League last-16 play-offs a boost with a 3-1 win away to Slovan Bratislava.
Slovan Bratislava 1-3 Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Lewling 12' (assist: Undav), 0-2 Leweling 18' (assist: Millot), 1-2 Metsoko 85', 1-3 Rieder 87' (assist: Mittelstädt)
Stuttgart began the matchday just a point below the play-off zone but, with French giants Paris Saint-Germain their final group-stage opponents, knew anything less than a win here could prove costly. Thankfully, they found themselves up against a Slovan Bratislava team yet to earn a point – and it told from the off. After dominating in the early stages, Leweling broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. A smart move culminated in Deniz Undav squaring across the box to his fellow Germany international, who tucked his shot beyond the goalkeeper expertly. Leweling then doubled his side’s lead in the 37th minute, again punishing inferior opponents for sloppy defending. A sumptuous lofted ball over the defence from Anthony Rouault was brought down by Enzo Millot, whose blocked attempt found Leweling unmarked to slot into an empty net. Wave after wave of Stuttgart attacks followed, with Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takáč barely managing to keep his side in the game.
The second half saw a more spirited display from Slovan, who fashioned several dangerous counter attacks only to be thwarted by some dogged Stuttgart defending. They weren’t to be kept out completely, however, with Idjessi Metsoko scoring just their sixth goal of the campaign in the 85th minute. Any hopes of a comeback were soon quashed, however, as Fabian Rieder put the game to bed just two minutes later after Stuttgart hit their desperate hosts on the break. The result sees Stuttgart climb into the play-off places, with 10 points from their opening seven games. A massive win in the hunt for a play-off position, but the job isn’t done yet.
Teams
Bratislava: Takáč - Blackman (Medveděv 89'), Kashia (c), Wimmer, Zuberu (Barseghyan 71') - Bajrić, Savvidis (Mustafić 82') - Tolić - Mak (Metsoko 70'), Strelec, Marcelli (Gajdoš 89')
Unused subs: Mikoláš, Trnovský, Voet, Mateáš, Pauschek, Vojtko, Szöke
Out: Kucka (knee)
Coach: Vladimír Weiss
Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman (Stergiou 91'), Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Keitel (Al-Dakhil 81'), Stiller - Leweling (Rieder 70'), Millot (Stenzel 90'), Führich - Undav (c) (Demirović 70')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Karazor, Chase, Malanga, Bujupi
Out: Diehl (hamstring), Nartey (knee), Raimund (thigh), Touré (foot), Woltemade (ineligible), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
Slovan look exhausted and would gladly end the game now. Their spirit has been broken by that Rieder goal.
Slovan push too many men forward in search for an equaliser and leave themselves open at the back. Stuttgart launch a counter and Rieder, who is picked out expertly by Mittelstädt alone in the area, fires beyond a helpless Takáč to all but kill the game off.
Metsoko halves the deficit with a cool finish beyond Nübel just inside the box. It's just their sixth goal in as many games this campaign. Game on!
It could be 5-0 by now, as Demirović squanders another gilt-edged chance to score. A superb one-on-one save from Takáč, after ther striker cut inside his defender to get a clear shot at goal, prevents the scoreline worsening.
Barseghyan makes an instant impact on the stats, if not the scoreline, cutting inside onto his left foot and giving Nübel a simple save to make.
A sumptuous cross from the left finds Demirović, who beats his own team-mate to the header but can only steer it wide. How have Stuttgart not scored a third by now?
Zuberu makes way for Barseghyan.
Mak makes way for Metsoko.
A cross to the back post finds the head of Undav who, challenged by his marker, can only guide his effort onto the foot of the post. Stuttgart should be home and dry by now.
Slovan are undone by a simple pass, which finds Undav onside and unmarked with a clear run at goal. He goes with the unselfish option, squaring it to an also-unmarked Mittelstädt. The latter fails to beat the 'keeper when scoring looked easier.
Slovan launch another counter, this time down the left. Mak races in behind the Stuttgart defence but Leweling busts a gut to get back and poke behind for a corner. Excellent defending from the goalscorer.
Stiller is robbed on the edge of his own area, after Slovan press high. The ball is worked to striker Marcelli, with space in the box, whose shot from a tight angle is blocked. Better from the home side.
After none in the first half, the Slovakians get three corners in a row early in the second. They're cleared without much fuss on each occasion.
The forward is booked for a lunging challenge on the edge of Slovan's area and appears to have hurt himself a little in the process. He'll try to limp that off.
Stiller picks out Undav on the edge of the Slovan box. He sends a deft lob towards goal but it's just over. The referee the blows for offside anyway.
Mittelstädt gets in behind the defence and whips a vicious ball across the area. It's just behind Stiller, who can't adjust, and rolls away from danger.
Slovan get us back underway at Tehelné Pole Stadium.
Stuttgart take a 12th corner of the half, which the goalkeeper punches away. It's swung back across to Führich, who lobs a ball to the back post where Leweling awaits. No hat-trick for the German, though. His header goes wide of the near post.
Stuttgart break down the left through Führich, who feeds the ball inside to Millot. The Frenchman drives forward before sliding a ball into the feet of Undav, inside the box. Undav is clattered by a defender but the referee says no foul.
The fourth official signals another 240 seconds of toil for Slovan.
Half-time approaches but the away side want more. They're by far the stronger side and look to get the ball forward at every opportunity. Slovan hanging on.
Rouault lofts a delicious ball over the Slovan defence, where it's brought down by Millot. His shot is blocked by the goalkeeper, but only as far as an unmarked Leweling, who has an empty net to shoot at. His effort is soft enough to give the goalkeeper a chance, but the latter only manages to skid into the net along with the ball.
Rouault is booked for a foul on Strelec.
Captain Kashisa goes in the book for a rough challenge on Undav on the edge of the Slovan box. The resulting free kick, from a dangerous area, hits the wall.
The away side have enjoyed 70 percent possession so far in this match, fashioning six attempts to Slovan's one. Hoeneß can be satisfied with what he's seen so far.
Slovan have their first real counter, with Strelec released in behind the Stuttgart defence. Rouault brings him down near the edge of the area. Strelec takes the resulting free kick but it goes just over.
A rampant Stuttgart are pulling their opponents all over the place right now. Leweling receives the ball wide n the right before unleashing a vicious shot. It's too high, though.
Stiller has just taken the the game's NINTH corner, with little over 20 minutes played. You get the feeing we might see a couple of goals via this method.
Stiller fizzes in another dangerous corner, which is headed high into the air and then subsequently hoofed even higher by another defender. The goalkeeper gratefully collects it when it drops a third time.
As things stand, Stuttgart move up to 20th in the Champions League table. Teams placed between ninth and 24th will reach the play-offs.
Stuttgart get off the perfect start through Leweling, who who tucks the ball beyond the goalkeeper from inside the Slovan box. Brilliant play from Undav, who collects a loose ball before squaring across the area to his team-mate. Leweling is under pressure, but he manages to finish expertly.
Stiller fizzes in two of his trademark corners in quick succession. The first is headed behind, while the second is punched the same way.
From his own half, Chabot sends a homing missile over the Slovan defence, where Undav collects. His touch is slightly heavy, though, and Takáč pinches it off his toe.
Zuberu goes down with a head injury and is treated on the field by a doctor. He's judged to be safe to continue.
Millot feeds a side rue pass through the area to Führich, who gets a shot away. The angle is tight, however, and Takáč parries behind for a corner. Electric start from Stuttgart.
Stuttgart get us underway in the sub-zero Slovakian capital. A huge night for the visitors in their quest for qualification.
Hoeneß makes five changes to the team that defeated Freiburg 4-0 at the weekend. Chabot and Mittelstädt return for Al-Dakhil and Hendriks in defence. In midfield, Keitel and Führich join Stiller and Leweling, with Karazor left out. While Millot is pushed up behind striker Undav. Demirović and Woltemade make way.
Takáč - Blackman, Kashia (c), Wimmer, Zuberu - Bajrić, Savvidis - Tolić - Mak, Strelec, Marcelli
Mikoláš, Trnovský, Voet, Barseghyan, Mateáš, Medveděv, Mustafić, Pauschek, Gajdoš, Vojtko, Szöke, Metsoko
Nübel - Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Keitel, Stiller - Leweling, Millot, Führich - Undav (c)
Bredlow, Seimen, Al-Dakhil, Demirović, Stenzel, Karazor, Stergiou, Chase, Rieder, Malanga, Bujupi
It seems a long time since VfB suffered that morale-sapping 5-1 reverse in Belgrade against Red Star. The result sparked an important reaction from the Swabians, who have since won seven of their last nine games in all competitions to get their season flying. Tuesday's visitors' latest victory came against Freiburg at the weekend.