bundesliga

Ten-man VfB Stuttgart survive late Schalke scare to earn one more point

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Chris Führich and Simon Terodde were on the scoresheet while Josha Vagnoman was sent off for VfB Stuttgart as the hosts held on for a draw against visiting Schalke.

VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Führich 18' (assist: Silas), 1-1 Terodde 21' (assist: Drexler)
Red card: Vagnoman 67'

The Mercedes-Benz Arena was a cauldron of noise ahead of the 99th meeting between these teams and the home support expected after their side had failed to score in their previous two games. Home coach Pellegrino Matarazzo - suspended for this one - would have relayed a message urging his side to pick up a first victory of the campaign against a similarly winless Schalke team reeling after last weekend's 6-1 reverse against Union Berlin. VfB answered the call, hitting the front on 18 minutes. A lapse in possession from Royal Blues debutant Sepp van den Berg allowed Silas to burst away. He found Chris Führich to his right, the 24-year-old duly firing in off the sprawling Maya Yoshida. Stuttgart's lead was short lived, however. Having failed to find the net in 2022/23, Terodde was offered a chance to put that right via Dominick Drexler's chipped pass. The striker accepted in style with a lifted finish that gave goalkeeper Florian Müller no chance.

In a second half of few chances, Lilian Egloff's drive wide stood out, although had the Stuttgart man's effort flown it, it would have been chalked off for offside with Hiroki Ito interfering in play. Instead of producing goalmouth action, the game descended into a tough, physical battle. Already booked in the first half, Vagnoman was ordered off after the VfB No. 4 bodychecked Tobias Mohr. With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Marius Bülter twisted and turned down the right before rifling in a cross which Müller could only parry out. The ball fell for Rodrigo Zalazar, who couldn't convert. Moments later, Bülter again sought out the former Uruguay U20 midfielder, whose dramatic slide just failed to produce the decisive touch. With Stuttgart surviving, both sides will have to wait at least one more week for that elusive maiden triumph.

Match stats

  • Führich's 18th-minute opener was Stuttgart's earliest goal this Bundesliga season.
  • Silas assisted a goal in the Bundesliga for the first time since March 2021 against Hoffenheim.
  • It was the first time VfB had been 1-0 up in a game this term.
  • Terodde has scored eight of his 11 Bundesliga goals in away games.
  • Führich is the fourth player to have scored for Stuttgart this season, alongside Silas, Wataru Endo and Naiuirou Ahamada.
  • Schalke are without a win in any of their last 31 Bundesliga away games.

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Teams

Stuttgart: Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Ito – Vagnoman, Führich (Stenzel 76'), Endo (c), Ahamada (Karazor 83'), Sosa (Millot 63') – Silas (Guirassy 83'), Egloff (Tomas 63')
Unused subs: Bredlow, Aidonis, Kastanaras, Perea
Out: Coulibaly (toe) Nartey (thigh), Pfeiffer (suspended)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo

Schalke: Schwolow – Brunner, van den Berg, Yoshida, Ouwejan (Mohr 46') – Krauß, Flick, Drexler (Mollet 74') – Bülter, Terodde (c) (Polter 65'), Larsson (Zalazar 65')
Unused subs: Fährmann, Greiml, Matriciani, Kral, Latza
Out: Kaminski (unspecified), Sane (match fitness)
Coach: Frank Kramer