Bundesliga
Stuttgart keep Champions League knockout hopes alive
VfB Stuttgart came from behind to defeat Young Boys 5-1 at the MHPArena and keep their hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout stages alive.
Stuttgart 5-1 Young Boys
Goals: 0-1 Łakomy 6 (assist: Virginius), 1-1 Stiller 25' (assist: Vagnoman), 2-1 Millot 53' (assist: Rieder), 3-1 Führich 61' (assist: Rieder), 4-1 Vagnoman 66' (assist: Millot), 5-1 Keitel 76' (assist: Demirović)
After picking up only four points from their opening five league phase games, Stuttgart were in desperate need of a win against pointless Young Boys to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages. However, a spanner was thrown in the works almost immediately as Łukasz Łakomy fired in with the game's first shot on target from outside the area. Despite that early setback, Stuttgart dominated the remainder of the half. Most of their opportunities fell to striker Ermedin Demirović but, although the Bosnian was not at his clinical best, Angelo Stiller was on hand to convert Josha Vagnoman's pass into the back of the net and level midway through the half. Young Boys, meanwhile, were unable to exert any real pressure, putting the hosts in a strong position to make their superiority count after the interval.
It took Stuttgart fewer than 10 minutes to complete the comeback. A VAR review was needed to determine whether Fabian Rieder had kept the ball in play, but the officiating team eventually came to the conclusion that the Switzerland international had legally passed back for Enzo Millot to slot home. That goal gave Sebastian Hoeneß's men extra confidence, and they were two to the good before too long. The third was a fabulous strike, too, as Chris Führich curled Rieder's cut-back from a free-kick into the top corner. Stuttgart were now clearly enjoying themselves, and Vagnoman added a fourth with over 20 minutes left on the clock, volleying home Millot's cross. Further gloss was added to the scoreline when substitute Yannik Keitel drove into the bottom corner from outside the area. The result sees Stuttgart move to within a point of the play-off positions, with a trip to Slovan Bratislava up next.
Match stats
- Stiller's strike was his first in the Champions League, as was Yannik Keitel's
- Millot has been involved in five goals in this year's competition (two goals, three assists)
- This was Stuttgart's first home win in Europe since 2010, having previously gone eight games without a continental win on their own turf (D4, L4)
- VfB have now won eight of their nine European games against teams from Switzerland to date, only losing away to Young Boys in the 2010/11 Europa League.
- Stuttgart are unbeaten in their past four games in all competitions and have won the past three, scoring at least thrice on each occasion.
- Young Boys, meanwhile, have won just one of their nine away games against German clubs in European competition (D3, L5). They are winless in all five past Champions League trips over the border (D3, L2).
Teams
Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman (Stenzel 76'), Rouault (Stergiou 83'), Chabot, Mittelstädt (Al-Dakhil 76') - Karazor (c) (Keitel 46'), Stiller - Rieder, Millot, Führich (Malanga 77') - Demirović
Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Krätzig, Kastanaras, Boakye, Chase
Out: Diehl (ineligible), Hendricks (ineligible), Raimund (thigh), Touré (foot), Undav (thigh), Woltemade (ineligible), Zagadou (knee), Leweling (hamstring)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Young Boys: Von Ballmoos - Athekame, Camara (Pfeiffer 70'), Benito (c), Hadjam (Blum 70') - Virginius (Colley 76'), Łakomy, Imeri (Males 62'), Ugrinic, Monteiro - Itten (Ganvoula 62')
Unused subs: Keller, Marzino, Niasse, Lauper
Out: Chaiwa (ankle), B. Conte (knee), A. Conté (knock), Crnovrsanin (knock), Janko (muscular), Zoukrou (hip)
Coach: Joël Magnin
As it happened!
5 - 1(1 - 1)
Stuttgart
FINAL
Young Boys
90'
vs
Łukasz Łakomy
89'
vs
Filip Ugrinić
83'
vs
Leonidas Stergiou
Anthony Rouault
86'
vs
Stuttgart closing in on victory
The three points are now all but wrapped up thanks to a brilliant second-half display.
86'
vs
Fabian Rieder
76'
vs
Ebrima Colley
Alan Virginius
77'
vs
Jarzinho Malanga
Chris Führich
76'
vs
Pascal Stenzel
Josha Vagnoman
76'
vs
Ameen Al-Dakhil
Maximilian Mittelstädt
70'
vs
Lewin Blum
Jaouen Hadjam
70'
vs
Patric Pfeiffer
Mohamed Ali Camara
76'
vs
Five-star Stuttgart!
Another for Stuttgart, this time from substitute Keitel. Rieder now has a hat-trick of assists after the midfielder's drives into the corner from outside the area.
70'
vs
Almost five
It just hasn't been Demirović's day so far. A cross finds him unmarked eight yards from goal, but his header lacks both power and precision as it trickles wide.
62'
vs
Darian Males
Kastriot Imeri
62'
vs
Silvère Ganvoula
Cedric Itten
66'
vs
Another for Stuttgart!
The hosts are enjoying themselves now, as Vagnoman volleys into the back of the net from Millot's fizzed cross. That is surely the three points secured now!
61'
vs
Breathing space for Stuttgart
Stuttgart are now two to the good thanks to a beautiful first-time strike from Führich, who curls a fantastic first-time effort into the top corner following Rieder's cutback from a free-kick.
61'
vs
Jaouen Hadjam
58'
vs
Loris Benito
53'
vs
Stuttgart in front
Die Schwaben completes the comeback! It takes a while to be ratified as VAR checks whether the ball went out in the build-up, but Rieder is adjudged to have kept the ball in before passing to Millot, who buries with aplomb.
52'
vs
More of the same
Stuttgart are still enjoying plenty of possession with Keitel in place of Karazor.
46'
vs
Wide
Another Demirović chance, but the same outcome as his attempt trickles wide. If he keeps on getting these chances, you would expect him to put one of them away.
46'
vs
Up and running
We are underway once more.
46'
vs
Yannik Keitel
Atakan Karazor
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
42'
vs
Still on top
Although Stuttgart have not had a real opening in the past few minutes, they are still dominating possession against their Swiss opponents.
35'
vs
Save
After a corner falls his way in the second phase, Chabot shoots tamely towards goal. Von Ballmoos gathers with ease.
31'
vs
Wide
While Demirović does well to hook a volley towards goal, it goes past the post without troubling Von Ballmoos.
25'
vs
Stuttgart back on level terms!
The home side have been on top since Young Boys' goal, and they are now deservedly back level. Another lovely move down the right is finished off by Stiller, who slots into the net following Vagnoman's pass.
22'
vs
Great chance!
Demirović really should make Von Ballmoos work when he is found unmarked eight yards from goal, but he leans back and fires over. Die Schwaben, though, are exerting more pressure as the game progresses.
18'
vs
Over
Karazor shoots from distance, but can't keep it down, even if it is well hit. Stuttgart are still looking for their first shot on target.
13'
vs
Over
Demirović has his team's next opportunity. Again, though, he cannot find the target as he heads well over the crossbar.
9'
vs
Side netting
Demirović twice beats Benito to carve himself some space after working his way into the box, but the angle is too tight for his shot and therefore doesn't trouble the goalkeeper.
6'
vs
Young Boys in front
The first shot on target of the encounter produces the opening goal. The ball falls to Łakomy on the edge of the box, and his first-time finish leaves Nübel rooted to the spot. Work to do for the hosts.
5'
vs
Frantic start
Both teams need the three points in their attempts to reach the knockout stages and are showing their intent early on.
1'
vs
Underway
We are up and running here in Stuttgart!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
In the tunnel
The teams are preparing to enter the field of play!