VfB Stuttgart earned their second win of the season with an energetic performance against Hoffenheim, who eased off after the break.
VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made two changes after the 0-0 draw in Bochum: Instead of Klimowicz and Al Ghaddioui (both on the bench), Kempf and Führich started for VfB after an injury lay-off. In the tactical alignment, Coulibaly moved to the right side in front of a defensive three-man backline.
Hoffenheim coach Sebastian Hoeneß was forced to make changes compared to the 3:1 against Wolfsburg: Baumgartner had to miss out at short notice with muscular problems, Geiger started anew.
A corner kick makes the difference
The opening minutes belonged to TSG, who had a first shooting chance through Kramaric (2nd). After about ten minutes, VfB got into the game better. However, the Kraichgauer came very close to taking the lead: First, Kramaric again shot just wide of the goal (16th), then Bebou failed to hit the bottom edge of the crossbar. Luck for the home side, who then became dangerous for the first time through Führich (18th). The subsequent corner kick led to the VfB lead, as Kempf scored his third goal of the season with a header (18th);
As the first half progressed, the game remained lively. Kramaric failed to score after a Karazor pass to Müller (33.), on the other side Marmoush did not manage a clear finish in front of Baumann (39.). It was only in the closing minutes before the break that the game flattened out a little, so that it went into half-time with the 1:0.
Mavropanos’ solo puts VfB on course
After the change of ends, the signs changed, as VfB now controlled the game with tactically clever shifting, aggressive duel behaviour and successful ball tables. After Adamyan lost the ball, Mavropanos started a solo run down the right and finished his individual performance with a shot into the left corner for 2:0 – a goal worth seeing (60.). For a long time after the break, there was hardly anything to see from TSG offensively, with the exception of a great chance for Kramaric to head home after an assist from Raum, but the Croatian failed to hit the ball correctly (68th).
Overall, however, Hoffenheim lacked spirit and penetrating power in the second half. VfB continued to act with more verve, for whom Joker Massimo marked the 3:0 with an accurate shot (81.) – at the same time the first Bundesliga goal of the U-21 international. However, the visitors at least managed to score a consolation goal: Another joker, Bruun Larsen, scored the final goal for VfB (84th) to make it 3:1, with Nartey and Mola making their Bundesliga debuts in the second half.
Stuttgart host Gladbach after the international break on Saturday (18:30) Hoffenheim host 1. FC Köln already on Friday evening.