Stuttgart held by Mainz

VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Mainz
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy 36’ (assist: Endo), 1-1 Ingvartsen 40’ (pen.)

Stuttgart were eager to impress their new boss, starting on the front foot. Silas fizzed a shot from outside the box straight down the throat of Finn Dahmen in the visiting goal in the opening minutes. Mainz tried to spoil Labbadia’s homecoming by dropping deep and soon gained a grip on the game. Leandro Barreiro and Aymane Barkok both probed for the visitors from distance. Stuttgart pushed again, though, and a clipped pass from Endo was converted tidily by Guirassy to give the hosts the lead. Naouirou Ahamada kicked Barreiro to give Mainz a spot kick minutes later. Denmark’s Marcus Ingvartsen kept his cool under the snow to slot the penalty in and tie at 1-1 at the break.

Stuttgart began the second period brimming with attacking purpose. Tiago Tomas and Guirassy both found opportunities in the opening minutes. Mainz kept the hosts at bay and almost pinched a lead on the break as Karim Onisiwo laid the ball across to Barkok, who rattled the crossbar. The lively Guirassy continued to strain Mainz’s defensive strength, sinking a shot onto the woodwork from the edge of the box. Once again, Mainz were able to see out a spell of pressure and test the hosts at times. Stuttgart struggled to gather enough momentum in the latter stages, with an effort hoisted over the crossbar by Josha Vagnoman from a corner being the closest they got to a fourth consecutive home win.

• Endo provided his first Bundesliga assist of the season, and sixth in total in the competition.
• Guirassy has scored five goals now this season – making it his highest-scoring Bundesliga campaign yet (having scored four for Cologne in 2017/18).
• Mainz’s first-half penalty was the first spot-kick Stuttgart have conceded all season.
• Ingvartsen is now Mainz’s top scorer this season with five strikes – just one behind his record of six goals in a Bundesliga season.
• Mainz had their first away draw of the season today in their ninth Bundesliga away game.
• The 05ers have avoided defeat in their opening match of a calendar year for the first time since January 2019 – when they also visited Stuttgart and won 3-2.

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Watch: Labbadia: "The Bundesliga is always special"

Stuttgart: Müller – Nartey (Vagnoman 77'), Ito, Mavropanos, Anton - Ahamada, Karazor, Endo (c) - Silas (Kastanaras 90'), Guirassy, Tomas (Führich 77')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Millot, Perea, Stenzel, Pfeiffer, Egloff
Out: Sosa (muscular), Ulrich (ill), Zagadou (ankle)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia

Mainz: Dahmen - Fernandes, Hack, Caci - Widmer (c), Barreiro (Fulgini 86'), Kohr, Martin - Barkok (Stach 78') - Onisiwo, Ingvartsen (Lee 65')
Unused subs: Rieß, Leitsch da Costa, Hanche-Olsen, Bobzien, Gruda
Out: Bell (suspended), Burgzorg (ankle), Burkardt (knee), Leitsch (fatigue), Mustapha (operation), Zentner (back)
Coach: Bo Svensson