Bilal El Khannouss fires VfB Stuttgart past Heidenheim
Bilal El Khannouss's strike proved the difference as VfB Stuttgart beat struggling Heidenheim for a third straight Bundesliga win.
VfB Stuttgart 1-0 Heidenheim
Goals: 1-0 El Khannouss 65’ (assist: Mittelstädt)
Stuttgart entered Sunday's clash looking to bounce back from Thursday's disappointing 2-0 UEFA Europa League defeat to Basel, where Ermedin Demirović had missed a penalty.
Back on home soil, Sebastian Hoeneß's men were aiming to maintain their perfect Bundesliga record at the MHPArena this season, having won both previous home fixtures without conceding a goal.
For the visitors, last week's 2-1 victory against Augsburg had provided a much-needed boost after four consecutive defeats to start their campaign. Frank Schmidt, in his remarkable 18th year at the Heidenheim helm, was hoping his side could build on that momentum against one of the league's in-form teams.
First-half stalemate under Stuttgart pressure
The home side dominated possession from the outset, with nearly 70 percent of the ball in the opening exchanges as they pushed forward against a disciplined Heidenheim defence.
The first real chance fell to Badredine Bouanani after just six minutes, when he latched onto Lorenz Assignon's throw-in but fired narrowly wide from a tight angle.
Despite their territorial advantage, Stuttgart struggled to create clear opportunities against well-organised opponents.
The visitors nearly punished them midway through the half when Mikkel Kaufmann stung the palms of Alexander Nübel with a powerful effort following good work from Jonas Föhrenbach.
The slippery conditions caused by persistent rain made precision difficult, with Stuttgart largely limited to shots from distance as the half ended goalless.
El Khannouss breaks the deadlock
Hoeneß responded to the continued deadlock with a bold triple substitution shortly before the hour mark, introducing Angelo Stiller, Ameen Al-Dakhil and Tiago Tomás to inject fresh energy into his side.
The changes proved inspired as Stuttgart increased their pressure, with Jeff Chabot forcing a fingertip save from Diant Ramaj with a powerful drive from distance.
The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute when El Khannouss received the ball from Maximilian Mittelstädt outside the penalty area. The Leicester City loanee midfielder showcased excellent close control before firing a precise low shot from 19 metres that found the bottom corner via the inside of the post, giving Ramaj no chance.
Heidenheim struggled to mount a response, with substitute Stefan Schimmer's deflected effort their best chance of an equaliser late on.
Player of the Match: Bilal El Khannouss
El Khannouss delivered a match-winning performance at the heart of Stuttgart's midfield.
Beyond his decisive 65th-minute strike that settled the contest, the 20-year-old Morocco international demonstrated exceptional technical ability throughout, consistently linking play and creating danger despite being the most pressed player on the pitch (26 times under pressure).
His goal - a clinical finish from outside the box that carried just a 7 percent probability of scoring according to xG data - showcased both his composure and quality.
After being substituted in the 90th minute, he was deservedly named Player of the Match with 58 percent of the votes, capping a performance that helped maintain Stuttgart's perfect home record.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Stuttgart 1.48 - Heidenheim 0.28
Fastest player: Mikkel Kaufmann (Heidenheim), 34.41 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), 7 percent
Most pressed player: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), 26 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), +2.66
Fantasy Heroes: Jeff Chabot (Stuttgart, 365 Points), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart, 351 Points), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart, 324 Points)
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