Highlights
F. Willenborg
Full-time
90'
+ 5
Handbags
Mavropanos isn't happy after going up for a header on the touchline, but it leads to a tangle with the Bochum bench. Coach Letsch is screaming for them to stop and just get on with the game. Couple of cards handed out.
90'
+ 3
Riemann up but nothing doing
It's the Bochum goalkeeper who gets his head to the corner, which is eventually delivered after a substitution delay, but it pops up kindly for opposite number Bredlow to catch.
90'
+ 3
Substitution
90'
+ 1
Added time
There's four extra minutes to be played at the Ruhrstadion as Bochum win a corner. Up comes goalkeeper Riemann.
90'
Silas!
A huge chance to put this to bed for Stuttgart as substitute Silas takes advantage of tired legs to race past a couple of Bochum defenders. He drives into the box right of centre and tries to go low across Riemann, but he sticks out a leg to (partially) make amends for his blunder earlier. The Congolese forward was convinced he'd scored after all that.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Stuttgart protecting the lead
All 11 white shirts with a red hoop back in their own half looking to repel Bochum's advances.
88'
Substitution
85'
Game on again!
Hofmann ends his seven-game drought as Förster goes on the overlap down the left, squares, and Hofmann slides in at the far post. Can the hosts do it?
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
80'
Is it Stuttgart's time?
VfB haven't won away from home in the league since beating Wolfsburg on 11 December 2021.
78'
Substitution
77'
Triple delight
The last time Stuttgart scored three goals away from home in the Bundesliga was in a 4-1 win at Augsburg in January 2021. This is the first time Bochum have shipped three at home under Thomas Letsch.
76'
Substitution
75'
KeeperEfficiency
KeeperEfficiency
0.5
Saves2
xSaves1.5
71'
Better from Bochum
The hosts up the tempo again as they come forward. Ball comes across goal to Holtmann on the left. He hits it first time and Bredlow adjusts well to get a strong hand up and parry it behind at his near post.
70'
Egg on Riemann's face
He may have made the most saves in the division but Riemann has now made five mistakes that have led to goals against Bochum.
70'
Substitution
70'
Substitution
69'
Get it in the box, lads
All three Stuttgart goals have come from crosses from open play.
65'
A complete momentum shift
A complete momentum shift
58'
27.5 %
63'
91.2 %
65'
Substitution
63'
Vagnoman makes it three!
Tiki-taka stuff down the left flank by Stuttgart as they make space and Millot digs out a cross. Riemann comes flying out for it but is caught short. Vagnoman does read the flight right though to nod into the empty net.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
60'
Immediate response!
What an absolute peach of a cross from Sosa with the outside of his left boot. On a plate for Guirassy as he ghosts between the centre-backs for the simplest of tap-ins five yards out as Stuttgart response immediately!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
58'
Stöger converts!
Cool as you like from Kevin Stöger as he sends Bredlow the wrong way and rolls the ball into the bottom left corner. A penalty won and converted by two ex-Stuttgart men.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
57'
Penalty Bochum!
Out of nowhere, Bochum are granted a lifeline as Millot hauls down Förster in the box. The referee shows no hesitation pointing to the spot.
52'
Over-Endo!
Another delivery into the box, ball sits up nicely for Endo and the VfB skipper goes for the overhead kick. But it's not the best connection and pops up kindly for Riemann to catch.
51'
Vagnoman!
Brilliant from the new Germany international, skipping past a couple of sliding tackles as he drives into the box from the right. The defender goes for the toe-poke trying to beat Riemann, but the Bochum goalkeeper sticks out a reactive left hand to deny what would've been a great goal.
47'
Stafylidis has a crack
Really good play from Asano as he keeps the ball riding a string of challenges. The Japan international lays it back to Stafylidis, who has the angle with his stronger left foot, but he only fizzes it into the arms of Bredlow. Good positive play from the hosts, though.
46'
Letsch makes a switch
The Bochum boss clearly wants more from his side going forward so sends on the more attacking and former VfB man Philipp Förster in place of Patrick Osterhage.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3
Advantage VfB
So far, so good for Stuttgart under Hoeneß. One goal in each of his games in charge, none conceded. And as it stands they'll be moving off the bottom of the table with seven games to go.
Half-time
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 1
Added time
Two extra minutes as Stafylidis delivers a free-kick from wide on the left, which is poor and hits the first man.
43'
Tight so far
Goal attempts
2off target
1on target
3off target
1on target
39'
Stuttgart counter
Bochum look to move the ball quickly but lose it and Führich leads a counter. Ball goes out to Sosa racing up the left. The Croatian looks to cut back for Führich who'd followed into the box, but it's just behind him.
37'
Silly yellow
The free-kick comes to nothing as it sails into Riemann's hands. The goalkeeper tries to move play on quickly with a punt upfield, but Guirassy sticks his leg in the way and also has his name taken.
36'
Dangerous free-kick
Antwi-Adjei trips Millot as he tries to drive into the box. Free-kick from a dangerous position right of the penalty area and the first card of the game to the Bochum man.
33'
All down the left
Touches
35
37
Danilo Soares Borna Sosa
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
Asano!
Bochum top the division for threat from corners and almost prove just why as a delivery from the left is nodded down and back to Asano, who darts in front of his marker but can't beat Bredlow with his header.
Hiroki the hero for Hoeneß
© IMAGO/Guido Kirchner/IMAGO/Kirchner-Media
22'
Bad omen
Bochum are the only team in the Bundesliga this season yet to earn a single point from games in which they've trailed. That's 16 times they've gone behind, 16 defeats.
20'
Wide from Losilla
The Bochum skipper has a crack from 20 yards but it bobbles harmlessly wide.
19'
Big shift in Win Probability
Big shift in Win Probability
0'
34.3 %
Now
57.6 %
16'
Crucial goal for Stuttgart
It's just Ito's second Bundesliga goal. His first game in a 2-1 win at home to Mainz in November 2021. And as it stands, Stuttgart are moving off the foot of the table up to 16th - just two points shy of safety and Hoffenheim, who take on Schalke later this evening.
Great hit from Ito!
© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO/IMAGO/RHR-Foto
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
12'
Foray into the box
This time it's Bochum's turn to attack, coming down the left with Soares on the overlap. He cuts back low and it takes a well-timed interception from Sosa to clear the danger for a corner.
10'
Guirassy goes down
Stuttgart's big top scorer tries to bulldoze his way through a gathering of blue shirts on the edge of the box and goes down as he enters the area, but nothing doing there.
9'
Bochum settling quicker
Possession (%)
5842
5'
Long throws an asset
Bochum lead the division for goals from throw-ins with three and Christopher Antwi-Adjei launches a long one here into the box. Some shouts for a hand but it's waved away as Stuttgart hack it clear.
1'
A real six-pointer
The hosts get things going in this huge fixture at the bottom of the table. Bochum can go nine clear of Stuttgart with a win, but an away victory will bring the bottom side to within three points of VfL in 14th.
Kick-off!
Almost ready
The passionate home supporters are belting out their traditional pre-match club anthem, scarves aloft in the Ruhr sunshine. We're almost ready to go in Bochum.
Bochum milestones
Konstantinos Stafylidis is making his 100th Bundesliga appearance today, Danilo Soares his 50th.
A game over a century in the making
Founded in 1893, this is rather fittingly VfB Stuttgart's 1,893rd game in the Bundesliga. Only Bayern (1,969) and Bremen (1,961) have played more fixtures in the league's 59-year history. Dortmund are also on 1,893. Bochum are still some way short of their founding year of 1848, with this game no. 1,221 - that places them 13th in the all-time standings.
0:19
Watch: Inside the visitors' changing room
Stuttgart team news
Sebastian Hoeneß showed in his first game in charge during the week as Stuttgart beat Nuremberg 1-0 in the DFB Cup that he’ll be bringing a back three back to VfB. Matchwinner Enzo Millot is given a chance from the start in place of Genki Haraguchi, while six-goal top scorer Serhou Guirassy gets the nod from the off in his first start in over two months after injury. Luca Pfeiffer makes drops to the bench, where Silas also takes a place as he prepares for his own comeback.
Bochum team news
Little surprise from Thomas Letsch with his team selection as he makes just one change from last week’s 1-1 draw in Freiburg. That sees first-choice left-back Danilo Soares restored after a one-game suspension in place of Dominique Heintz. It’s therefore the same XI that beat Leipzig and Cologne in the preceding two fixtures.
0:10
Watch: The Ruhrstadion stage is set
Stuttgart XI
Bredlow - Mavropanos, Anton, Ito - Vagnoman, Endo (c), Karazor, Millot, Sosa - Guirassy, Führich
Stuttgart subs
Müller, Coulibaly, Tomas, Perea, Silas, Stenzel, Haraguchi, Pfeiffer, Zagadou
Bochum XI
Riemann - Stafylidis, Ordets, Masovic, Soares - Stöger, Losilla (c), Osterhage - Asano, Hofmann, Antwi-Adjei
Bochum subs
Esser, Zoller, Förster, Holtmann, Janko, Kunde, Broschinski, Heintz, Schlotterbeck
Letsch: "We've got a big chance"
© Alex Grimm/Getty Images
Hoeneß: "We need to carry positive energy"
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Saviour Sebastian?
© Imago
Free-falling under Labbadia
Stuttgart reacted to that loss by sacking Labbadia after just four months in charge, and appointing Hoeneß as his replacement until summer 2025. Labbadia won just one of 11 Bundesliga games in his second stint at the VfB helm, with the defeat to Union his seventh since taking the reins from Pellegrino Matarazzo on 5 December 2022. Die Schwaben have slipped from 16th to 18th in the Bundesliga standings on his watch, and sit five points adrift of outright safety with eight rounds of fixtures remaining.
Watch: Union 3-0 Stuttgart - highlights
2:03
Watch: Frankfurt 1-1 Bochum - highlights
The state of play
Bochum have the edge after moving four points clear of the relegation play-off spot, thanks to a run of three games without defeat. Stuttgart provide the next test of their top-flight staying power in what will be Sebastian Hoeneß’s first game in charge after Bruno Labbadia was shown the door with VfB propping up the rest of the table. The three-time Bundesliga champions currently sit five points adrift of outright safety.
Relegation six-pointer Sunday!
From Super Saturday to relegation six-pointer Sunday, temperatures are set to reach fever pitch at the foot of the standings with four of the five teams fighting for their Bundesliga lives in action on Sunday. Stay tuned!