Deniz Undav’s goal in the second half proved decisive as VfB Stuttgart solidified their top-four ambitions.
Although the first half saw both teams generating opportunities, they were unable to convert them into goals. Christoph Baumgartner came close in the 33rd minute but sent his right-footed attempt over the bar from inside the box. Shortly after, his teammate Ermedin Demirović missed a golden opportunity, heading wide from a threatening cross delivered by Chris Führich.
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In the 56th minute, Undav broke the deadlock with his 16th goal of the season, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. His quick shot from close range found the net, beating Maarten Vandevoordt, with assistance from Führich. This goal elevated the 29-year-old to second place in the Bundesliga scoring charts, surpassing Luis Díaz, but he remains a remarkable 14 goals behind Harry Kane, who is on track to claim the Gerd Müller award.
In a nail-biting finish, Willi Orbán nearly equalized in added time, but Stuttgart was spared by the post, maintaining their one-goal advantage. Undav had a late opportunity to extend the lead, sprinting down the left unchallenged, but his curled shot was saved by the Leipzig goalkeeper.
The victory marks a significant turnaround for Hoeneß’s squad, which had narrowly lost to Porto in the Europa League Round of 16 earlier.
Stuttgart 1-0 RB Leipzig | Player Ratings
Stuttgart:
Nübel (8), Hendriks (7), Jaquez (7), Jeltsch (7), Führich (7), Stiller (8), Karazor (6), Leweling (6), El Khannouss (7), Undav (9), Demirović (6).
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Substitutes: Mittelstädt (7), Nartey (6), Tomás (6), Assignon (-), Andres (-)
Leipzig:
Vandevoordt (5), Raum (7), Lukeba (6), Orbán (8), Baku (5), Baumgartner (6), Seiwald (6), Banzuzi (5), Nusa (5), Rômulo (5), Diomande (6).
Substitutes: Gruda (6), Schlager (6), Harder (5), Bakayoko (6), Henrichs (-).
GGFN Man of the Match | Deniz Undav (9)
Though Undav will rue not scoring a second goal, his performance was instrumental in securing the victory for Stuttgart in a closely contested match. He consistently threatened the Die Roten Bullen defense and, despite missing three significant opportunities, made valuable contributions by tracking back and supporting his teammates in advancing the play (FotMob).
GGFN | Trambak Bhattacherjee