Hertha 0-2 Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Kempf (9'), 0-2 Castro

Hertha flew out of the traps as they sought to endi a run of two successive defeats that have followed their 4-1 Matchday 1 win at Werder Bremen. Their front three of Jhon Cordoba, Matheus Cunha and Mathew Leckie put the Stuttgart back line under immediate pressure as the visitors struggled to match the intensity of their hosts, but it was VfB who went close first as Sasa Kalajdzic’s seventh-minute header thumped the post. Just two minutes later, Stuttgart were in front against the early run of play as Kempf rose highest to head home Daniel Didavi’s inviting free-kick. Neither side managed to muster any more first-half chances of note, with Stuttgart taking their 1-0 lead into the break.

They should have doubled that lead three minutes into the second period as Didavi teed up Kalajdzic, but the Austria international could only head wide from less than six yards and with the goal at his mercy. Hertha responded well and were almost level five minutes later as half-time substitute Dodi Lukebakio superbly closed down Gregor Kobel, but the Stuttgart stopper reacted wonderfully to save Cunha’s follow-up. But it was Stuttgart who would score again to stretch their lead, thanks to the persistence of captain Castro. First, he robbed the ball just inside the Hertha half, and then kept the move alive before firing home from 20-yards out. Pellegrino Matarazzo's side comfortably saw out a victory that moved Stuttgart into fourth-place in the table on Saturday evening.

BSC Hertha Hertha Berlin - VFB Stuttgart VfB Stuttgart

High-flying VfB Stuttgart see off Hertha Berlin