The Borussia Mönchengladbach revival under manager Lucien Favre continued as they played visiting VfB Stuttgart to a 1-1 draw, honours even, in week two of the Bundesliga campaign.

With the backdrop of their voracious supporters in full song at a capacity Borussia Park Stadion, Die Fohlen took to the pitch billowing with confidence after last week’s victory over Bayern. The opening stages saw both sides maintaining the tightest of defending chances, with chances a rare sighting though Borussia ‘keeper Marc-André ter Stegen shone before the break with a top shelf stop of Tamás Hajnal’s probing effort.

Eight minutes after the break the nineteen year-old Borussia ‘keeper once again showed his vast potential as he stretched out fully to deny Zdravko Kuzmanović’s goal bound effort. Six minutes past the hour Borussia got the break they were looking for as match day referee Manuel Gräfe pointed at the spot after William Kvist brought down Marco Reus in the area. With confidence, skipper Filip Daems stepped up the spot and promptly drove the ball into the back of the net. Four minutes later Stuttgart levelled as William Kvist delivered a perfect cross from the right by-line that Christian Gentner headed back for Cacau for the close range finish. With ten minutes remaining, Borussia lost Roel Brouwers’ to his second card but with defending resolve held off the hosts advances as the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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In a crucial relegation battle for both sides, VfB Stuttgart fought back with three unanswered goals in the second half to defeat host Borussia Mönchengladbach. With the result, Borussia maintain rock bottom of the Bundesliga table, the Schwaben side in the spot above trailing Köln who shocked Bayern München.

Entering the contest Bruno Labbadia’s side had yet to away this season from the friendly confines of the Neckarstadion and quickly found their hosts on the prowl. Die Fohlen posted the first notable effort moments before the half-hour with Igor de Camargo firing wide and a further chance by Marco Reus stopped by VfB goalkeeper Sven Ulreich. Following those missed chances, the hosts broke through at the twenty-ninth minute as former Standard Liège man Dante nodded Marco Reus’ corner from the right to the back of the net. Borussia-Park was in rapture two minutes later as their heroes doubled the margin as Igor De Camargo turned Marco Reus’ corner after the twenty-one year old attacker was played through via Mohamadou Idrissou’s provision.

Borussia was doing a job keeping their visitors at bay until nine minutes shy of the hour when Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak helped spark the comeback as he outpaced Dante to latch onto Martin Harnik’s deflected cross from the right and send in from ten metres. The goal marked a decided change in the complexion of the match and five minutes later the Schwaben notched the leveler as Martin Harnik deft cross body effort, via Arthur Boka’s pass from the left, squeeze into the far post.  With the contest now squared both sides fought toe-to-toe for the much needed winner and though the host supporters were upset with a goal disallowed in the final quarter-hour, further controversy would ensue with a late penalty. With three minutes remaining in regulation time, Dante was shown his second yellow-card, albeit in an extremely contentious call, for a foul of Pavel Pogrebnyak in the area and to add insult to injury, match day referee Thorsten Kinhöfer pointed to the spot. In the ensuing effort, Timo Gebhart drove the ball past host keeper Christofer Heimeroth to give VfB its first lead of the day and without further incident claimed the 3-2 victory.

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VfB Stuttgart’s VfB Stuttgart’s Pavel Pogrebnyak spoiled the home debut of Borussia Dortmund in the Rückrunde with a late goal to seal a 1-1 draw honours even. With the result, Jürgen Klopp’s side maintain a stunning thirteen-point advantage over Hannover 96 at the top of the Bundesliga table, whilst the Schwaben visitors still languish in the relegation zone, second from the bottom.

Coming off their victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the Schwarzgelben were plagued without the services of Sven Bender, Shinji Kagawa, skipper Sebastian Kehl, Patrick Owomoyela and Mohamed Zidan, with the visitors equally troubled with absentees Johan Audel, Mamadou Bah, Khalid Boulahrouz, Cacau, Stefano Celozzi and Ciprian Marica.

In front of a sold-out Westfalenstadion, BVB charged forward but quickly saw the early complexion change as Christian Gentner forced a superb save from host goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. To the urging of the supporters in full song, the Schwarzgelben began to carve out openings but the final touch was wasteful and VfB’s keeper Sven Ulreich was unchallenged. However, BVB finally broke through two minutes shy of the break when the highly promising eighteen year-old Mario Götze notched his fourth goal of the campaign as he finished off the handy work of Kevin Großkreutz and Nuri Şahin. After Robert Lewandowski narrowly missed doubling the lead, BVB took the one goal advantage to the break.

At the restart, VfB manager Bruno Labbadia ushered Timo Gebhart for Arthur Boka as his side when in search of the equalizer. After Kevin Großkreutz sent a header over the bar, VfB began to push forward as play opened up. BVB saw a host of high probability chances come their way with Robert Lewandowski and Nuri Şahin coming within a hushed whisper of increasing the margin. Four minutes past the hour, Lucas Barrios entered for Jakub Błaszczykowski and quickly thereafter, the Paraguayan international was unable to capitalize on a Kevin Großkreutz’s fine provision. BVB continued to post the majority of scoring chances but with each turn, the final touch was off course. With six minutes remaining in the regulation time, Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak made them pay for missed chances with a booming shot from just inside the area past Roman Weidenfeller to square the match, bringing it to its eventual 1-1 draw, honours even.

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VfB Stuttgart continued their late surge as they defeated Bayer 04 Leverskusen 2-1 at the Neckarstadion. With the result, VfB’s fifth consecutive victory, they pull to third in the Bundesliga table, whilst Leverkusen is directly behind them, level in points.

In an action-packed contest, the visitors went in-front two minutes shy of the quarter-hour as Stefan Kießling surged away from his marker Serdar Tasci to get on the end of Stefan Reinartz’s through ball on the right channel. The attacker then deftly sent the ball past VfB ‘keeper Jens Lehmann from a tight angle. Disaster struck for Leverkusen six minutes later, as Tranquillo Barnetta was the recipient of his second yellow-card, forcing his side to play the remaining time with a one-man disadvantage. After withstanding pressure from their visitors, VfB levelled at the twenty-ninth minute as Cacau headed in Cristian Molinaro’s cross from the left. Leverkusen went back on the attack only to see Jens Lehmann holding the draw with a superb stop as the match went to the break deadlocked.

After the break Leverkusen ‘keeper René Adler did well to stop Cacau, who had been played through on the left channel. VfB was controlling much of the attacking pulse for the remaining period with a number of high probability chances falling short. Following another match saving stop by Jens Lehmann on Arturo Vidal, VfB found the winning mark with five minutes remained in regulation. Surging through the left channel, Pavel Pogrebnyak delivered a scorching cross that was partially cleared to Cacau, who then drilled the ball in from twelve metres.

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A fortuitous late goal by Cacau gave VfB Stuttgart a 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin at Olympiastadion, sending the Berliners closer to relegation. With the result, VfB climbs to sixth in the table, whilst Berlin languishes at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, trailing closest target Freiburg by three points with only four weeks remaining.

With a restricted crowd in attendance due to problems at the Nürnberg contest, the Berliners showed good intent but as the story has went through their horrific run at home finishing was lacking. Shy of the half-hour Levan Kobiashvili was stopped by VfB ‘keeper Jens Lehmann from eight metres with Theofanis Gekas narrowly missing the mark shortly after the break. Die Schwaben broke the hearts of Berlin fans with sixteen minutes remaining in regulation time as Cacau’s effort from twenty metres came off Steve von Bergen and soared over ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný into then net. Friedhelm Funkel summoned Polish international Artur Wichniarek as an added striker but Stuttgart was resolute in defending and claimed the 1-0 victory.

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Serbian international Zdravko Kuzmanović scored late to push VfB Stuttgart past Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 at the Neckarstadion. The victory extends Stuttgart’s hopes for a spot in the Europa League, as they now sit seventh in the Bundesliga table, four points off Werder Bremen, whilst Borussia is comforably away for relegation at twelfth.

Stuttgart was enjoying the run of play in the early stages but unable to muster the final touch before Borussia went out in front three minutes past the hour. On a quick counter attack, Thorben Marx sent a well weighted ball that Marco Reus chased down on the right channel before rifling past VfB ‘keeper Jens Lehmann into the opposite corner.

Christian Gross’ side were having little success breaking through the visitors curmudgeonly defending until they lodged the equalizer at the sixty-sixth minute. Initiated by Zdravko Kuzmanović’s free kick from the left into the box, Ciprian Marica got control of the ball at the near post and fired it, with an opportunistic bounce, past the Gladbach ‘keeper. Die Schwaben, after squandering other chances, went in front to stay with seven minutes remaining in regulation time when Zdravko Kuzmanović was headed the ball back and sent an unstoppable drive from just beyond the area into the the net for the 2-1 victory.

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VfB Stuttgart came from behind to defeat Bayern München 2-1 at Allianz Arena to continue their charge towards a Europa League spot. With the result, Stuttgart climbs to seventh in the Bundesliga table, whilst Bayern tumbles to the second spot.

After a slow start to the proceedings, Bayern began to carve openings with Miroslav Klose and Daniel van Buyten at the root of the attack. Two minutes past the half-hour, the hosts broke the deadlock as Ivica Olić redirected Danijel Pranjić’s cross from the left. The goal stirred VfB and nine minutes later Christian Träsch’s effort from twenty-three metres took a highly deflection into the net to bring the match to a 1-1 score.

At the break, Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben were summoned into the Bayern line-up but four minutes after the restart Ciprian Marica headed Cacau’s into the net to give Stuttgart the lead they would not relinquish. For the balance of the day, Bayern controlled the run of play but was unable to muster a significant challenge and the match ended 2-1 in Stuttgart’s favour.

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Coming off their disappointing end in the Champions League, VfB Stuttgart defeated Hannover 96 at the Neckarstadion courtesy of Ciprian Marica’s two goals. With the result Christian Gross’ side continue their stunning turnaround and now sit seventh in the Bundesliga table, whilst 96 cling perilously on the relegation ropes at the fifteenth spot.

From the opening whistle, Stuttgart was clearly in control of the proceedings, despite having little time to prepare for the encounter. After early efforts by Zdravko Kuzmanović and Ciprian Marica showed their intentions, Stuttgart settled down and methodically carved openings in the troubled 96 unit. Nine minutes shy of the break Belarusian international Aliaksandr Hleb surged down the left flank before turning at the by-line and delivering a pin-point cross that Ciprian Marica nodded in from a few metres out. The hosts narrowly missed doubling their lead before the break as the striker rasped Aliaksandr Hleb’s cross off the woodwork.

Die Schwaben showed no let-up after the break and six minutes prior to the hour, Hannover defender Christian Schulz saw Ciprian Marica get between his pass on the edge of the area and the Romanian international quickly sent the ball into the net. The visitors showed no quit in trying to get back into the affair but they could not breakthrough and the match concluded 2-0 in favour of VfB Stuttgart.

VfB Stuttgart returns to play next Saturday as they visit Bayern München, whilst Hannover 96 welcomes Köln to the Niedersachsenstadion.

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VfB Stuttgart’s stunning revival under the managerial direction of Christian Gross was halted in its quest for the Champions League quarterfinals as they were defeated 4-0 by Barcelona at Camp Nou.

The hosts grabbed the 1-0 lead two-minutes shy of the quarter hour as Lionel Messi navigated his way through VfB’s defenders before sending his effort past ‘keeper Jens Lehmann to the top left corner from twenty metres. The La Liga side tore into Stuttgart only nine minutes later as Pedro Rodríguez turned in Yaya Touré’s cross from the left that was initiated by Lionel Messi’s deft provision into the box. After giving up the early two goal lead, Stuttgart were having trouble mounting a serious charge going forward and were fortunate not to see their deficit increase prior to the break.

At the restart, VfB summoned Timo Gebhart in for Stefano Celozzi as they searched for a way back into the match but their efforts invariably exposed themselves at the back. At the hour, Lionel Messi put the match out of the reach as he accepted Dani Alves slick back heel before driving the ball into the net. Stuttgart is thankful for the work of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as the veteran did well to keep the scoreline where it was as it could have been significantly worse. After stops on the young Argentine looking for his third of the evening, Stuttgart tried to hit back but the solid work of host goalkeeper Víctor Valdés stopped those chances cold. As time wound down Bojan Krkić got on the end of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s through ball before bring the match to a 4-0 finale.

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The Schalke 04 resurgence under manager Felix Magath continued, as they defeated VfB Stuttgart 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen. With the result, Schalke edges a point clear of Bayern München at the top of the Bundesliga table, whilst Stuttgart sits at seventh.

With much at stake, both sides were reluctant to expose themselves early and it was not till just shy of the quarter-hour that Schalke, narrowly missed breaking the deadlock when Kevin Kurányi sent effort from the edge of the box just outside the near right post. Die Schwaben came storming back and ten minutes before the break Pavel Pogrebynak got on the end of Sami Khedira’s through ball but Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer denied his effort. Though Stuttgart continued to push the tempo of the affair, the match went to the break without a score.

Die Königsblauen took the lead a minute after the restart as Edu Gonçalves, in only his second match since moving from the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, latched onto a loose ball in the area and sent it past Jens Lehmann for the 1-0 lead. The lead was short-lived as four minutes later Serdar Tasci, from close-range, nodded in Zdravko Kuzmanović’s cross. However, in a back and forth affair, Schalke restored its lead five minutes later via a set-piece play that caught Stuttgart completely flat-footed, with Heiko Westermann being gifted the ball the left before firing across to Kevin Kurányi who then turned in his fourteenth goal of the campaign. Following the go-ahead goal, Schalke missed a chance to seal the victory before a late surge by Stuttgart. With a minute remaining in regulation time, Cristian Molinaro’s seemingly goal bound effort was cleared and Schalke claimed the 2-1 victory.

Stuttgart returns to play next Wednesday as they visit Barcelona in Champions League play before welcoming Hannover 96 in domestic play on Saturday. Schalke enjoy an extra day off as they return to action on 21 March, against Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion.

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