Update
Things are getting really dark for Mainz
DFB hope Undav works magic for sensational team Stuttgart
February 11, 2024, 5:41 p.m
During the week, VfB Stuttgart suffered a defeat in the DFB Cup against Leverkusen in what was probably the best game of the year. Undeterred, they won in the Bundesliga against bravely fighting Mainz. European Championship candidate Deniz Undav sends a letter of application to the national coach. Of course there are protests.
VfB Stuttgart has mastered the return to everyday Bundesliga life with flying colors and is still fully on course for the Champions League. Five days after the exciting cup appearance against Bayer Leverkusen (2:3), the Swabians consolidated their third place in the table with a 3:1 (2:0) against the struggling FSV Mainz 05 and increased the guests’ fears of relegation.
While Maximilian Mittelstädt (45th+2), Jamie Leweling (45th+5) and Deniz Undav (74th) extended Stuttgart’s lead over fifth-placed RB Leipzig to six points with a wonderful goal in top striker Serhou Guirassy’s comeback .”I don’t care how many goals I have. The main thing is that we got the three points. We had to show a reaction after the Leverkusen game. We started the game with difficulty, but in the end the three points are the most important . We did things and luckily we won,” Undav said on DAZN. It’s currently “a lot of fun,” said the goalscorer: “We always want to win, we have a clear game idea and play outstanding football. Everything is just coming together.”
Meanwhile, Mainz are slipping to 17th place in the table. continue unchecked towards the descent. Ludovic Ajorque’s goal (76′) was just a cosmetic result. The pressure on coach Jan Siewert is increasing. Despite a good performance at times, the 41-year-old’s team remained without a win against Stuttgart for the eleventh time in a row and must therefore continue to wait for the urgently needed liberation in the basement of the table.
Long break at the start
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who had to do without goalkeeper Alexander Nübel against Mainz, had warned his team urgently before the game that they were a candidate for relegation. As in the cup game during the week, you need “a performance at the limit,” said the 41-year-old: “Mainz plays hard, at the limit. That’s a board.”
He was right, the game started quickly. After just 60 seconds, both teams had a good chance – especially Mainz’s Anthony Caci, who hit the post. Both teams were open-minded on offense from the start, and Mainz didn’t hide either and put VfB under pressure early on.
The 15-minute interruption due to fan protests against the DFL investor deal didn’t change that. Just a few seconds after the restart, Merveille Papela (24th) missed Mainz’s next big chance – as did Jessic Ngankam (37th). The FSV slowly had to be accused of usurping opportunities and – of course – was punished for it.
Guirassy returns
After Chris Führich (43′) miserably missed Stuttgart’s lead, Mittelstädt and Leweling scored the double blow within just three minutes. Mainz, who were visibly ailing, let VfB have their way and were lucky not to concede the decision before the break.
Siewert reacted and brought in three new players for the second half. In fact, Mainz seemed to stabilize as a result, but nothing more. Stuttgart continued to dominate the game and had another chance to make a preliminary decision thanks to Leweling (53′).
The biggest celebration in the Stuttgart Arena in the second half came from Guirassy, who played for VfB in the 62nd minute for the first time since returning from the Africa Cup. Then Undav decided the game in favor of the hosts, who played the match confidently even after Ajorque’s goal.