VfB Stuttgart 4-1 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 Silas (pen. 3'), 2-0 Ahamada 22' (assist: Silas), 2-1 Zoller (29'), 3-1 Silas 64' (assist: Sosa), 4-1 Endo (71')

It may still be too early in the season to talk about this match being a relegation six-pointer, but Stuttgart certainly started as if it was one. The hosts began with a furious intensity in their first game under interim head coach Michael Wimmer, who took over following Pellegrino Matarazzo’s dismissal during the week, and edged in front in the third minute when Silas scored from the penalty spot after being tripped by Danilo Soares. Silas was involved again when VfB doubled their lead, teeing up Naouirou Ahamada to rifle in from 10 yards following a mistake by Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann. The visitors managed to hit back before the break, however, Simon Zoller finishing from Kevin Stöger’s pass following some slick one-touch interplay down the left.

Bochum could have equalised on the hour mark after a lapse in concentration from Waldemar Anton allowed Philipp Hofmann through on goal, but the VfB defender’s blushes were spared by a superb save from goalkeeper Florian Müller. Silas made the visitors pay for their profligacy moments later when Borna Sosa scampered into space down the left and cut the ball back into the middle for the Congolese forward, who drilled a precise shot into the bottom corner beyond Riemann’s despairing dive. The home side were not done yet though, and added another when Bochum failed to clear Sosa's free-kick from the left, the ball eventually falling kindly for Wataru Endo to smash in from close range and put the seal on a long overdue maiden win of 2022/23.

VFB Stuttgart VfB Stuttgart - BOC Bochum Bochum

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