Compared with the 3-0 win against SV 07 Elversberg in the second round of the DFB Pokal, head coach Xabi Alonso made seven changes: Only birthday boy Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Granit Xhaka played from the start again. Martin Terrier was unavailable as were the injured Amine Adli and Jeanuel Belocian.
The match was evenly balanced from the start but there was a setback for Stuttgart: After 180 seconds Jamie Leweling complained of pains in his left thigh off the ball. The Germany international had to be substituted and was replaced by Fabian Rieder (8'). The first noteworthy chance of the game came on twelve minutes: Jeremie Frimpong intercepted a Stuttgart pass and raced towards the VfB goal but Alexander Nübel was able to save his shot. Shortly after that, Alejandro Grimaldo tested the Stuttgart keeper (14'), Anrie Chase then blocked an effort from Florian Wirtz (15').
The Black and Reds increased the pressure as the game went on, pressing high and continuing to play on the front foot – and the ball was in the back of the net but celebrations were cut short: Frimpong converted a pass from Victor Boniface but the provider was offside in the build-up (33'). The next chance for Bayer 04 fell to Tapsoba on 41 minutes with the central defender heading against the bar from a corner. The defender, along with Tah and Co., was in full control at the back with VfB not having a single shot in the first half that ended goalless.
The Black and Reds were on top again after the restart and had the first big chance in the second half: Wirtz intercepted a misplaced pass by Stuttgart and set up Boniface who shot against the right hand post (53'). Alonso then made a change in attack bringing on Jonas Hofmann for Mukiele. The visitors also made substitutions with Deniz Undav having their first chance of the game on 61 minutes.
Wirtz chipped a ball over the top to Frimpong but his header at pace went just wide of the post (66') and Nübel made an impressive save with his feet to deny Boniface (73'). On 77 minutes, Wirtz was kept out by the Stuttgart keeper – with shot number 17 of the night. Alonso made further substitutions late on with Patrik Schick, Nathan Tella and Exequiel Palacios coming on. However, despite the fresh legs and continued attacking efforts to the end, the Werkself were unable to gain the rewards for their efforts. The match against the runners-up ended goalless.
The Werkself now have two away games in the third double fixture week: The Black and Reds are away to Liverpool on Matchday 4 in the Champions League on Tuesday, 5 November (kick-off: 21.00 CET). That is followed on Saturday, 9 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET) by a visit to VfL Bochum on Bundesliga Matchday 10. Then comes the final international break of this year.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Mukiele (Hofmann 54'), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Xhaka, Andrich (Palacios 86') - Frimpong (Tella 86'), Wirtz, Grimaldo - Boniface (Schick 86')
VfB Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Rouault, Chase, Mittelstädt (Hendriks 58') - Karazor, Stiller - Leweling (Rieder 8’, Führich 58’), Undav, Millot (Demirovic 80’) - Touré (Al-Dakhil 80’)
Yellow cards: Andrich, Mukiele, Xhaka - Karazor, Millot, Chase, Stiller
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
Show moreAlejo Sarco has joined the Werkself training camp in Brazil. The 19-year-old striker, signed from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield in January, talks to bayer04.de about his first six months in Germany, help from Exequiel Palacios and his targets up to the end of the year.
Show moreThe friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday, 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST) represents the sporting highlight of the current Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Ahead of the clash at the Estádio da Gávea against the highly successful youth team, there was a media event with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about the forthcoming opponents, first impressions of Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. Here are the key statements.
Show moreDay three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. Today, Thursday 17 July, sees the two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane join the squad in training. Plus the former Werkself players Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas visit the Bayer AG Football School. In the afternoon there is a big media event ahead of the friendly against the Flamengo U20s. As usual, Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on-the-spot reports. The blog for day three of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings given in local time).
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