In an eventful match, VfB Stuttgart secured their second victory in as many games this year, overcoming Eintracht Frankfurt with a final score of 3-2. The Swabians struggled to seize control for much of the game until a debut goal ultimately secured their win.
Stuttgart’s coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, made only one change from the team that triumphed 4-1 against Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Demirovic returned to the starting lineup after recovering from an injury, allowing Nartey to take a place on the bench.
On the other hand, Eintracht’s coach, Dino Toppmöller, faced several absences following a thrilling 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund, missing Uzun (foot issues), as well as Brown and Larsson (both ill). He brought in Amenda, Africa Cup-of-Nations returnee Skhiri, and debutant Kalimuendo as replacements.
Both teams had made headlines in their previous matchdays, leading to a fast-paced start in their direct encounter. Frankfurt initially had an advantage as Kristensen headed a cross from Doan into the net in the fifth minute.
Despite the quick beginning, Frankfurt had to make an early substitution in the 20th minute after Ebnoutalib collided forcefully with Chabot, resulting in the Frankfurt striker being replaced by Bahoya.
Stuttgart managed to turn the game around despite Frankfurt’s good start, equalizing the score in the 27th minute after Demirovic capitalized on a mistake by goalkeeper Kaua Santos, who fumbled a cross from Mittelstädt. From that point, Stuttgart largely dominated, generating numerous scoring opportunities against a rattled Frankfurt defense.
Stuttgart took the lead with a deflected shot from Undav in the 35th minute, making it 2-1. Before the halftime whistle, Stiller, Vagnoman, and Leweling all had chances to increase the lead, but were unable to convert.
In the second half, Frankfurt revived their offensive efforts, creating several dangerous chances. An open exchange of scoring opportunities ensued, with Führich and Undav coming close for Stuttgart, while Knauff struck the crossbar for Frankfurt.
However, Stuttgart’s inability to secure the match soon came back to haunt them, as Frankfurter debutant Amaimouni-Echghouyab equalized just three minutes after his introduction, delivering a flat shot into the net in the 80th minute.
As excitement continued, both Kristensen and Undav failed to find the net, but Stuttgart finally regained the lead in the 87th minute when Nartey, capitalizing on a pass from Vagnoman, scored his first Bundesliga goal, sealing Stuttgart’s second consecutive victory of the year.
VfB Stuttgart will host Union Berlin on Sunday at 3:30 PM, while Eintracht Frankfurt is set to face Werder Bremen two days earlier at 8:30 PM. This match showcased the tenacity of both teams and sets the stage for exciting future encounters in the Bundesliga.