VfB Stuttgart dismantle Freiburg in statement 4-0 victory
VfB Stuttgart secured a convincing 4-0 win over Freiburg, with goals from Rouault, Demirović, Woltemade, and Undav. The victory strengthens Stuttgart's position in the race for Champions League qualification, whilst Freiburg's hopes appear to be slipping away.
Goals: 1-0 Rouault 2’(assist: Stiller), 2-0 Demirović 17’ (assist: Stiller), 3-0 Woltemade 45’+5 (p), 4-0 Undav 80‘ (assist: Führich)
The clash between Stuttgart and Freiburg at the Mercedes-Benz Arena was eagerly anticipated, with both teams vying for the European spots. Stuttgart entered the match in fine form, having won four of their last five Bundesliga games and looking to secure their third consecutive victory. Freiburg, on the other hand, were hoping to bounce back from their recent away struggles, having gone six games without a win on the road.
Stuttgart's flying start
Stuttgart wasted no time in asserting their dominance, stunning Freiburg with an early goal. In just the second minute, Angelo Stiller delivered a pinpoint corner kick, finding Anthony Rouault at the near post. The defender made no mistake, glancing a header past Florian Müller to give the hosts a dream start. Freiburg attempted to respond quickly, but Max Rosenfelder's header from a Vincenzo Grifo free-kick was correctly ruled offside.
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Demirović haunts former club
Stuttgart's relentless pressure paid off again in the 17th minute. Once again, it was Stiller's set-piece delivery that caused havoc in the Freiburg defence. This time, Ermedin Demirović found himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, heading home against his former club, doubling Stuttgart's lead and sending the home crowd into raptures. The striker's celebration reflected the significance of the moment, both personally and for his team.
Freiburg's struggles
As the first half progressed, Freiburg struggled to gain a foothold in the match. The visitors' woes were compounded when Matthias Ginter was forced off due to injury, replaced by Philipp Lienhart. Stuttgart continued to dominate, with Demirović nearly scoring his second of the match around the half-hour mark, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. The home side's superiority was reflected in the statistics, with Stuttgart enjoying 60% possession and winning two-thirds of the duels.
Woltemade's penalty seals first-half dominance
Just as it seemed Freiburg might escape to half-time only two goals down, Stuttgart were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Rosenfelder's foul on Jamie Leweling gave Nick Woltemade the chance to extend the lead from the spot. The young striker made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Müller to make it 3-0. This goal effectively ended the contest before the break, leaving Freiburg with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Stuttgart manage the lead
The second half saw Stuttgart adopt a more measured approach, content to manage their substantial lead. Freiburg showed more attacking intent but struggled to create clear-cut chances. The visitors' best opportunity came in the 66th minute when Ritsu Dōan's shot was blocked, followed by a save from Alexander Nübel to deny Junior Adamu. Stuttgart's defence, led by the impressive Rouault, remained resolute throughout. Both teams made multiple substitutions, with Stuttgart bringing on Chris Führich and Jacob Bruun Larsen to maintain their attacking threat, while Freiburg introduced Eren Dinkçi and Michael Gregoritsch in search of a consolation goal.
Undav puts the icing on the cake
Any lingering hopes of a Freiburg comeback were extinguished in the 80th minute. Substitute Deniz Undav, who had replaced the impressive Demirović, found space on the edge of the box. His powerful shot took a slight deflection off Jordy Makengo, wrong-footing Müller and nestling in the back of the net. The goal, Undav's 25th career goal in the Bundesliga, put the seal on a commanding Stuttgart performance and a resounding 4-0 victory. This win propelled Stuttgart into the Champions League spots, showcasing their credentials as serious contenders for European football next season.
Player of the Match: Angelo Stiller
Stiller was the architect of Stuttgart's victory, delivering a masterclass in midfield creativity. His set-piece deliveries were instrumental in the first two goals, providing pinpoint assists for both Rouault and Demirović. Stiller's influence extended beyond his assists, as he controlled the tempo of the game with his precise passing and intelligent positioning. His pass accuracy of 87% and ability to consistently find teammates in dangerous positions made him the standout performer in a dominant Stuttgart display.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Stuttgart 2.29 - Freiburg 0.25
Fastest player: Ameen Al-Dakhil (Stuttgart), 32.71 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 4-0 by Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), 9 percent
Most pressed player: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), 18 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Ramon Hendriks (Stuttgart), +3.65
Fantasy Heroes: Anthony Rouault (Stuttgart, 306 Points), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart, 292 Points), Atakan Karazor (Stuttgart, 230 Points)
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