Bundesliga
Stuttgart back on continental trail
VfB Stuttgart managed to bounce back from UEFA Europa League defeats to Basel and Fenerbahçe with a dramatic late win over Robin van Persie's Feyenoord thanks to goals from Bilal El Khannouss and Deniz Undav.
Stuttgart 2-0 Feyenoord
Goals: 1-0 El Khannouss 84’, 2-0 Undav 90‘+1
There were nerves around the ground as Stuttgart were held to a first-half stalemate against their Dutch opponents, given that they had suffered back-to-back defeats without scoring on Matchdays 2 and 3.
Feyenoord started the better of the sides, with stand-in captain Anis Hadj Moussa causing the most problems and posing the game's biggest goal threat.
Stuttgart continued to struggle to break down a well-organised Feyenoord defence in the second half, until a pinpoint cross from Lorenz Assignon was met by the head of El Khannouss inside the box, the No.11 guiding the header in off the underside of the bar.
Undav secured the three points minutes later, rounding off a clinical counter-attack courtesy of an unselfish assist from Chris Führich.
Victory saw the Swabians climb to 20th in the league-phase table on six points. They're next in action on 27 November when they travel to the Netherlands to take on Go Ahead Eagles.
>>> See Stuttgart's Europa League fixtures here
Recap the action against Feyenoord below...
2 - 0(0 - 0)
Stuttgart
FINAL
Feyenoord
90' +1
vs
Undav wraps things up!
With Feyenoord committing numbers forward in pursuit of a leveller, the opportunity for a counter-attack opened up for Stuttgart. Leweling plays Führich through to the byline, who supplies a lovely reverse pass to Undav, allowing Stuttgart's captain to stroke home into an empty net from 12 yards.
90'
vs
Stoppage time
Four additional minutes have been indicated.
89'
vs
From distance
The ball drops for Nieuwkoop about 30 yards from goal. The substitute takes it on the half-volley, striking it well but failing to truly trouble Nübel.
89'
vs
Chema penalised
The midfielder sees yellow for a clumsy challenge on Larin.
89'
vs
Chema Andrés
86'
vs
Final contribution
After claiming what may well be the winner, El Khannouss - alongside Tomás - departs the field to be replaced by Bouanani and Führich.
85'
vs
Chris Führich
Tiago Tomás
85'
vs
Badredine Bouanani
Bilal El Khannouss
84'
vs
Bilal El Khannouss
84'
vs
El Khannouss fires Stuttgart ahead!
The MHP Arena erupts! After a fantastic run from Assignon down the righ, the ball is whipped across to El Khannouss, who rises highest in the middle, his header clipping the underside of the bar on it's way in to make it 1-0.
82'
vs
Straight at Nübel
From a free-kick from a central position not far from goal, Smal's effort is gobbled up by the Stuttgart keeper, without any real difficulty.
82'
vs
Bart Nieuwkoop
Luciano Valente
80'
vs
Double change
Hoeneß makes another two substitutions, bringing on Zagadou for the injured Chabot, and former Feyenoord man Hendriks on for Mittelstädt.
80'
vs
Dan-Axel Zagadou
Jeff Chabot
80'
vs
Ramon Hendriks
Maximilian Mittelstädt
78'
vs
Larin's effort blocked
Read leads the Feyenoord charge before teeing up Larin on the edge of the box, whose curling effort is blocked behind for a corner. Hadj Moussa takes, but the referee blows for a Stuttgart free-kick for an infringement in the box.
74'
vs
Sauer takes the corner
The recently-introduced substitute fires in a corner from the left for Feyenoord, but only finds the head of Jeltsch, who nods it to safety.
72'
vs
Leo Sauer
Gonçalo Borges
70'
vs
Side netting
The chances are picking up for Stuttgart now. This time, Tomás is sent into the box with a ball from out wide, but his shot from a tight angle only lands in the side netting at the near post.
69'
vs
Golden chance!
A beautiful move from Stuttgart sees Assignon, Stiller and Chema combine in triangles down the right. The latter slips Undav through one-on-one with a lovely defence-splitting pass, but the Stuttgart captain can only fire straight at Wellenreuther. Stuttgart then manage to rework it to Leweling with a cross to the far post, but the winger's header is wide.
68'
vs
Gijs Smal
65'
vs
El Khannouss!
From the resultant set-piece, Undav plays it short to El Khannouss, who strikes from the edge of the box, his powerful effort being fired straight into the wall.
64'
vs
Timber booked
The midfielder fouls Stiller from behind around 25 yards from his own goal and is rightfully shown a yellow card.
64'
vs
Quentin Timber
62'
vs
Flashed wide
Hadj Moussa whips a delightful cross in from the right, finding Ueda's head inside the Stuttgart box, but the Japanese international's header is just wide of the right post.
58'
vs
Stiller takes
The No.6 floats a cross in from the set-piece. It's headed down to Chema, who tees up El Khannouss on the edge of the box, but the No.11's strike is beaten away by Wellenreuther for a corner, upon which Stuttgart don't manage to capitalise.
57'
vs
Read booked
After conceding a free-kick right outside their own box for a handball against Mittelstädt, Stuttgart immediately counterattack and El Khannouss is played in behind the Feyenoord backline before being fouled from behind by Read. The VAR had checked and cleared a possible red card, but Stuttgart are incredulous.
57'
vs
Givairo Read
54'
vs
Floated in by Leweling
The substitute goes on a mazy run down the left flank before hanging a ball up into the box, in search of the arriving Chema. However, goalkeeper Wellenreuther claims the high cross before being flattened by the onrushing midfielder, to earn the visitors a free-kick inside their own box.
53'
vs
Poked across goal
Tomás dances past his marker down the right flank, getting to the byline before trying to hit a cross on the half volley into the danger area, which Feyenoord clear.
51'
vs
Shot blocked
Ahmedhodžić drives up from the back for Feyenoord before slipping Ueda into the Stuttgart box. However, the forward's lashed effort takes a meaty deflection behind for a corner, which Nübel eventually claims.
46'
vs
Back underway!
It's Stuttgart who get the ball rolling for the second half here. Hoeneß makes one change at half-time, bringing Leweling on for Vagnoman as he looks to inject more attacking impetus into his side.
46'
vs
Jamie Leweling
Josha Vagnoman
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +3
vs
Late drama
With one ball up from the back, Hadj Moussa is played through the heart of the Stuttgart defence and through on goal. He's brought down by Mittelstädt, who is shown only a yellow card, for Jeltsch was also covering. The VAR has checked and cleared whether that should be upgraded. Ultimately, Hadj Moussa takes the free-kick, again firing it straight into the wall.
45' +1
vs
Maximilian Mittelstädt
45' +1
vs
Stoppage time
One additional minute has been indicated.
42'
vs
In by Stiller
The No.6 curls a corner in towards the near post but can't find any takers in the middle.
41'
vs
Miscontrolled
Chema threads a pass between the Feyenoord defensive lines to find Vagnoman on the edge of the box. However, the defender, in trying to spin his marker, loses control of the ball and the visitors can clear.
38'
vs
Tempo quickening
The speed of exchanges has picked up in the last few minutes and the game is being played fairly end-to-end here. Will we find an opener before half-time here?
35'
vs
Cutback intercepted
Timber does well down the right for Feyenoord before trying to pick out Hadj Moussa at the penalty spot. However, a Stuttgart leg is put in to make a vital interception before clearing the danger.
33'
vs
Sensational from Tomás
El Khannouss retrieves a loose ball before backheeling it into the path of the Portuguese winger. Tomás gets the opportunity to show off his dancing feet, leaving Watanabe for dead with a nutmeg, before being brought down for a foul right on the edge of the box. From the set-piece, the initial ball is cleared to Mittelstädt, whose follow-up effort from outside the box is wildly struck.
32'
vs
Hadj Moussa goes into the book
The Feyenoord captain sees yellow for kicking the ball away after the referee had blown for a stoppage.
32'
vs
Anis Hadj Moussa
29'
vs
Options either side
Vagnoman receives the ball out wide on the left. With options either side of him, he cuts inside and tries to fashion space for a shot from the edge of the box, but is dispossessed before such space can materialise for the No.4.