13th matchday: Thanks to dual leadership Guirassy & Undav: VfB wins against Werder

Deniz Undav and Serhou Guirassy fell into each other’s arms after the next Stuttgart coup. The two goalscorers led VfB to a 2-0 (1-0) win against Werder Bremen in their first joint starting eleven appearance and thus kept the Swabians in the top group of the Bundesliga.

Undav, who had once been rejected from the Werder youth team, initially rewarded the hosts’ superior performance with the lead (17th minute). Guirassy made the decision with a converted penalty kick (75′).

VfB already has 30 points and is in third place behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen (34) and champions FC Bayern Munich (32). At the same time, VfB successfully prepared for the DFB Cup round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund. Bremen, who were weak away from home, started with a defeat in the final spurt to Christmas, which coach Ole Werner had proclaimed to be trend-setting.

Wohlgemuth: “It was a deserved victory”

“We are enjoying the moment. This is a situation that we can get used to. The road is long, we have to remain patient. It was a deserved victory. We could have closed the bag earlier in the first half,” said sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth on the TV channel Sky and praised his accurate dual leadership: “Both are able to act in the hot spots. But both are also able to shape the game. Both have a good feeling for each other and definitely don’t have each other stood on his feet.”

In front of 54,500 spectators in the sold-out arena, VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß had his starting eleven offensive, apart from the two goal scorers Guirassy and Undav. Undav, who grew up not far from Bremen, once had painful experiences at Werder. As a teenager, the attacker was unable to assert himself and has since given up his professional hopes. In freezing temperatures he showed again why he is so valuable as a loan from the Premier League for the Swabians, who are playing in a special jersey this time. “I was a little boy, I’ve developed further. You can never have an aversion to your former club. It wasn’t anything personal,” said Undav.

VfB dominates the game, Werder is rarely dangerous

Together with strike partner Guirassy and his other offensive colleagues, the attacker came closer and closer to scoring. Silas Katompa Mvumpa had the first chance (6th), then Undav shot past the Bremen goal after a corner on the right (9th). Guirassy also missed the lead several times, once after several one-twos with Undav (11th). Then it was time for Stuttgart’s goal celebration: Undav poked the ball over the line. Captain Waldemar Anton had checked Michael Zetterer and the Werder goalkeeper let the ball bounce.

The hosts confidently dominated the game, but with further good chances they missed the second goal for a long time. A goal from Guirassy did not count due to offside a few minutes after the 1-0 lead (21′), Guirassy’s shot from a tight angle rolled just wide just before the break (40′). Undav failed with a long-range shot before the half-time whistle (45′). Bremen, on the other hand, hardly got into the game on offense and were repeatedly in danger on defense.

After the break there was one of Bremen’s rare offensive actions. However, things immediately became much more dangerous on the other side than when Mitchell Weiser finished (49′): Guirassy, ​​the Swabians’ top scorer, missed his next big opportunities in his first start after his muscle injury and the strain of his international trip (51′). ./61.).

Only with the penalty did Guirassy remain cool as usual and convert centrally. According to referee Bastian Dankert, the goalscorer himself was fouled by substitute Niklas Stark. The people of Bremen protested urgently. VfB national player Chris Führich was treated outside before the scene and received the ball from Werder goalkeeper Zetterer. “I didn’t see the player at all. It’s extremely unfortunate. I think it’s a bit unfair,” said Zetterer.