VfB Stuttgart back up to fourth after Ermedin Demirović rescues point at home to Werder Bremen
Ermedin Demirović scored a second-half equaliser as VfB Stuttgart moved back into the Bundesliga’s UEFA Champions League places, despite having to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday afternoon.
VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Stage 18’ (assist: Sugawara), 1-1 Demirović 61’ (assist: El Khannouss)
Hoffenheim’s victory over Hamburg on Saturday evening had lifted the Sinsheim outfit above VfB and back into the top four, but Sebastian Hoeneß’s side knew that a point at the MHP Arena would move them back above Christian Ilzer’s charges in the race for Europe’s premier club competition.
Bremen, meanwhile, started the day five points clear of the relegation play-off spot - and six above the automatic relegation zone - but a positive result in Stuttgart would edge them ever closer to securing their top-flight status for next season. While the home side saw plenty of the ball early on, it was Werder who carried a greater threat in the final third.
Senne Lynen had a shot blocked by Dan-Axel Zagadou before blazing the rebound over the bar in just the sixth minute, while the influential Jens Stage also sent a looping header just wide of Alexander Nübel’s goal.
Stuttgart gradually settled and Luca Jaquez and Deniz Undav both threatened from distance, but it was the visitors who struck first in the 18th minute. Yukinari Sugawara received Stage’s pass on the right flank before cutting the ball back to the unmarked Dane, who fired a low first-time shot beyond Nübel and into the bottom corner for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Stuttgart responded well, with Mio Backhaus producing an outstanding save to deny Bilal El Khannouss’s close-range header before preventing Maximilian Mittelstädt’s free-kick from nestling in the far corner, as the visitors went into half-time with their narrow lead intact.
The home side continued to dominate possession in the second half but initially struggled to break down Bremen’s resolute defence. Their frustration grew until Hoeneß made two inspired substitutions in the 57th minute, introducing Chris Führich and Demirović.
The impact was almost immediate. Just four minutes later, Angelo Stiller fed El Khannouss on the left and the Moroccan’s precise cross found Demirović, who rose highest to head home the equaliser with just his second touch of the match.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Stage forcing a save from Nübel and Backhaus tipping another Demirović header over the bar, but a draw was ultimately a fair reflection of an evenly contested match.
Man of the Match: Jens Stage
Bremen’s Danish midfielder was the standout performer at the MHP Arena.
Aside from continuing his impressive goalscoring form with a well-taken opener, the Werder skipper was at the heart of Bremen’s most dangerous attacks and showed tremendous energy to keep Stuttgart at bay at the other end of the pitch.
His partnership with Sugawara down Bremen’s right flank caused Stuttgart major problems in the first half in particular, and he nearly grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute when his close-range effort forced a save from Nübel.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Stuttgart 1.59 - Bremen 1.04
Fastest player: Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), 34.06 km/h
Most pressed player: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), 29 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), +5.34
Fantasy Heroes: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart, 289 Points), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart, 240 Points), Jens Stage (Bremen, 328 Points)
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