Undav hat-trick as Stuttgart beat Leipzig

VfB Stuttgart 5-2 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Millot (pen.) 25', 2-0 Undav 30' (assist: Führich) 2-1 Šeško 32' (assist: Raum), 3-1 Leweling 48' (assist: Vagnoman), 3-2 Openda 55' (assist: Seiwald), 4-2 Undav 56' (assist Führich), 5-2 Undav 75' (assist: Stiller)

Both sides came out brimming with purpose and eager to get their first points of 2024 on the board. While few chances came in the opening 20 minutes of the end-to-end encounter, it always looked ready to spark into life. A Stuttgart penalty for a Mohamed Simakan handball was the catalyst for three goals in seven scintillating minutes. Enzo Millot stepped up to convert coolly from the spot before Deniz Undav slotted home from just outside the box on a swift attack. Benjamin Šeško was then placed perfectly to thump a header in and pull Leipzig back to one down. Stuttgart controlled the remainder of the first half, with Josha Vagnoman and Jamie Leweling having the best of several chances to add a third before the break.

The hosts duly got the threatened third shortly after the restart when Leweling turned home in acrobatic style from close range. Stuttgart seemed poised to run away with the game at this stage. A super Loïs Openda strike on the break suddenly pulled Leipzig right back in it - until Undav headed a curled Chris Führich cross in the following minute to restore the two-goal lead. The visitors struggled to gain a platform to mount a comeback against the hosts, who had gained a renewed sense of confidence from their scoring burst. It got even better for a super Stuttgart side with Undav converting on the rebound to complete his hat-trick. The game was effectively over by then, with Waldemar Anton hitting a chance for a sixth over as the Stuttgart fans saluted their players on a statement win in their bid for a top-four spot. 

• Undav scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick.
• Stuttgart became the first team in the Bundesliga to have two players reach double figures for goals this season - with Serhou Guirassy scoring 17 and Undav now on 12). 
• Stuttgart have been awarded seven penalties this season - more than any other Bundesliga side - scoring four of them.
• Openda has 13 goals in 19 appearances for Leipzig. Only one player has previously scored more for the club at this stage of a season (Timo Werner with 20 goals in 2019/20).
• Today's match was Marco Rose's 150th as a Bundesliga coach.
• Leipzig lost a Bundesliga game to Stuttgart for the first time after winning nine of their 11 previous meetings.

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Stuttgart: Nübel - Rouault, Anton (c), Zagadou, Mittelstädt - Millot (Di Benedetto 84'), Stiller - Vagnoman (Stergiou 87'), Leweling (Massimo 84'), Führich (Milošević 90') - Undav (Stenzel 87')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Cisse, Haraguchi, Paula, Milošević 
Out: Egloff (knee), Guirassy (international duty), Ito (international duty), Jeong (international duty) Karazor (suspended), Nartey (knee), Silas (international duty)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Leipzig: Blaswich - Simakan (Orban 85'), Klostermann (c), Lukeba, Raum - Baumgartner (Henrichs 67'), Schlager (Elmas 77'), Seiwald (Kampl 67'), Olmo (Poulsen 77') - Šeško, Openda
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Lenz, Bitshiabu, Jatta
Out: Haidara (international duty), Xavi (suspended)
Coach: Marco Rose