VfB Stuttgart won again after five games. The 3: 1 in the derby against TSG Hoffenheim was a breakthrough.
Pellegrino Matarazzo showed his left fist for a moment, then clapped his hands with his assistants. Then the coach of VfB Stuttgart hugged his players and enjoyed the long-awaited sense of achievement. Sports director Sven Mislintat also took a deep breath.
“If you only had five points and then you win against an opponent who is a few years ahead, that is really worth something,” said Mislintat after the redeeming 3-1 (1-0) victory in the Baden-Württemberg derby against TSG Hoffenheim at Sky: “We can draw out a lot of self-confidence.”
Meanwhile, Matarazzo was celebrating with his team in front of the Cannstatter curve. The relief after difficult weeks was clearly noticeable, the first three-point after five games a break free. “If we look at the entire 90 minutes, it’s a deserved win, we played very well,” said Mislintat with satisfaction.
The defenders Marc Oliver Kempf (18th), who already scored his third goal of the season, and Konstantinos Mavropanos (60th) with a strong solo brought VfB onto the road to victory. Roberto Massimo (81st) increased to 3-0 before Jacob Bruun Larsen (84th) managed to correct the result.
Hoffenheim had good chances in the first half and scored a crossbar from Ihlas Bebou (17th). However, TSG had too little willpower to counter the passionate appearance of the hosts.
Hoffenheim had to do without Baumgartner
Hoffenheim, which had to replace Christoph Baumgartner (muscular problems) at short notice, was initially the much more dangerous of two erratic teams. Andrej Kramaric (2nd and 16th) came to a close twice, Bebou’s shot to the lower edge of the crossbar jumped back into the field.
A guest hit was in the air when suddenly VfB struck out of nowhere. New signing Chris Führich, who was in the starting line-up for the first time, forced a corner that Omar Marmoush served right on Kempf’s head. Florian Grillitsch and Sargis Adamyan didn’t bother the goal scorer enough.
The leadership gave the Stuttgarters a boost, with a biting duel they made the encounter balanced. Marmoush (39th) could have increased from a highly suspicious position. Hoffenheim never managed to bring up their otherwise strong flank play. And the pressing of the guests didn’t work well enough either, so promising switching moments were far too rare.
Symptomatic for the sometimes unfortunate TSG actions was an attempt to clarify the situation by Chris Richards, who accidentally hit his teammate Diadie Samassekou in the face (55th). Samassekou was substituted off shortly after, before Mavropanos made his grand entrance. He chased the ball from Adamyan – and could no longer be held. After a run of around 30 meters, he hit the lower left corner – his second goal of the season.
When Hoffenheim did get dangerous, Kramaric was almost always involved. But the Croatian lacked timing and luck, as with another header (68th).
VfB Stuttgart – TSG Hoffenheim: The voices
P.ellegrino Matarazzo (coach VfB Stuttgart): “There was a different determination, a different depth, a different courage, which did us good. We take a lot of positive things with us. With every win you grow, that is also a confirmation that we are on the right track. Our intensity was right “We were passionate and determined from the first to the last minute.”
Sebastian Hoeneß (TSG Hoffenheim): “I am not satisfied with the points I got, we missed a huge opportunity. We have to stabilize our performance. I am still firmly convinced of the team and that we will do it. I am not worried, but we will have to work on it. to become more stable. We will – and then come to the regions that we imagine. “
VfB Stuttgart – TSG Hoffenheim: the lineups
Stuttgart: Florian Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf – Karazor – Coulibaly (89th Didavi), Mangala (76th Nartey), Endo, Sosa (90th Mola) – Führich (65th Massimo), Marmoush (75th Klimowicz). – Trainer: Matarazzo
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kaderabek (57th Akpoguma), Richards, Vogt, Raum – Samassekou (57th Rutter), Grillitsch – Geiger (69th Bruun Larsen) – Bebou (69th Dabbur), Kramaric, Adamjan (83rd Rudy). – Trainer: Hoeneß
