After 1975 and 2016, the ambitious VfB Stuttgart is facing its third relegation from the German Soccer League. The crisis-stricken Swabians did not get beyond a meagre 2:2 (1:1) in the first leg of the relegation against the second-league third Union Berlin. The VfB is now under even more pressure in the return match on Monday (20.30 in the LIVETICKER) in the stadium at the Alte Försterei against the home strong cult club.
“This isn’t a dream result. But we haven’t relegated today,” said VfB captain Christian Gentner at Eurosport. “We imagined more,” Mario Gomez also complained, “we just have to be more stable in the back.”
Gentner (42.) took the lead in a fierce match in front of 58,619 spectators. The joy lasted only 87 seconds, however, because Suleiman Abdullahi equalled with the first action after the kick-off. Joker Gomez (51.) brought VfB back to the front before Marvin Friedrich (68.) equalled again.
“We threw it all in and got a really good result. We are looking forward to the home game, the stadium will tremble,” said Union captain Christopher Trimmel.
The statistics speak for the VfB, which would lose around 15 million euros in television money alone in the event of a crash. In 20 relegation duels to date since 1981, the second league team has only been able to assert itself five times, most recently in 2012 Fortuna Düsseldorf succeeded in doing so.
His team, which recently showed an upward trend in the league, is “up for the game,” said VfB coach Nico Willig shortly before the game. This quickly became clear. However, the pressure that Bayern coach Niko Kovac recently described as “inhumane” was also palpable.
VfB’s actions lacked precision in all their efforts. Playful elements were also neglected. Thus the Stuttgart team benefited from a mistake by Manuel Schmiedebach in the first significant possibility. However, Anastasios Donis failed because of Rafal Gikiewicz (7.).
Otherwise there were no offensive actions worth seeing. Union held humorless against it and was able to breathe again and again. Danger did not emanate from the “Iron” until the 21st minute: Then Sebastian Andersson forced VfB keeper Ron-Robert Zieler to a brilliant parade.
Union was now more courageous. The VfB largely had problems to embarrass the second league team – until the conspicuous Donis took off and served Gentner as the leader. But the shock from Abdullahi’s equaliser, which left Emiliano Insua in the void, followed promptly.
Willig reacted and brought Gomez for the disappointing Daniel Didavi. Shortly thereafter, the 33-year-old missed out on the lead, before he forced Friedrich to take the lead again. The substitution of the striker briefly brought a little more momentum into the VfB game. Union wobbled, but fought its way back.
And he was rewarded: After a corner, Friedrich came unchallenged to the header and hit with a bouncer. With further brilliant deeds against Andersson (78./90.+3) the goalkeeper had to prevent worse, because the VfB defensive started to swim again and again.
