In the top game at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Alexander Nübel (28) was undoubtedly the best Stuttgart player. The VfB keeper kept a clean sheet for his team, saved a point – and also recommended himself for further international appearances.
Whether it was Jeremie Frimpong after twelve minutes, Victor Boniface just before half-time from close range, or the Nigerian striker again in the 73rd minute, Alexander Nübel drove the Werkself to the brink of despair on Friday evening. From the goalkeeper’s point of view, a point and a clean sheet at the champions’ is “of course rock solid for a start”, but the way it was achieved is not particularly satisfying.
“I think, looking at the year as a whole,” Nübel explains on the DAZN microphone, “it was our worst game” against Leverkusen. After VfB had lost twice and drawn once in their three previous duels with Bayer 04 this year, Nübel said he was “happy to get a 0-0 draw here and not lose.”
Praise for DFB rival Baumann
After the 28-year-old made his debut in the German national team shirt just three weeks ago (2-1 in Bosnia), any further performance at club level automatically serves as an application for additional DFB appearances. In any case, Nübel does not allow himself to be carried away into making a challenge, preferring instead to praise competitor Oliver Baumann for his outstanding performances “in recent weeks.”
Until the next international break (November 11-21), Stuttgart’s goalkeeper will of course “step on the gas.” What happens “in the next few weeks, remains to be seen,” says Nübel, who is also in contact “from time to time” with DFB goalkeeping coach Andreas Kronenberg outside of the international break to get “a little feedback.”
The Paderborn-born goalkeeper still has time until Sunday next week to attract even more attention from national coach Julian Nagelsmann. During this period, the Swabians will not only face Eintracht Frankfurt (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.), but also Atalanta Bergamo (Wednesday, 9 p.m.) in the Champions League.
Leweling injured, Rieder out
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who spoke of a “lucky” point on Friday evening, will have to do without another German international, Jamie Leweling, at least in the clash against the Europa League winners from Italy. The right wing, who was already out after eight minutes, “felt something in his thigh when he started up,” said his coach, who was unable to assess the severity of the injury shortly after the final whistle.
While Leweling only marginally benefits from the two days off, the short break should come at just the right time from Fabian Rieder’s point of view. Leweling’s substitute, who was substituted again in the 58th minute, “has now started the third time in a very short week,” so to speak, explains Hoeneß. The substitution was purely for fitness reasons and “had nothing to do with his performance.”