Dem VfB Stuttgart, under coach Bruno Labbadia, has achieved the longed-for liberation in the fight against relegation from the Bundesliga. The sometimes enthusiastic Swabians won 3-0 (1-0) against 1. FC Köln on Saturday. Goals from Gil Dias (9′), Borna Sosa (59′) and Joker Tanguy Coulibaly (74′) gave Labbadia their first league win since returning to Stuttgart.
The situation hasn’t eased up after the fourth win of the season. But at least VfB, who only saved themselves in injury time on the last day of the previous season against Cologne, are currently in 14th place in the table and taking a deep breath. After the first defeat this year, Cologne is still in the middle of the table. “It’s just extremely awesome. Winning is a feeling that nothing else can give you. That was very important,” said VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow. Cologne captain Jonas Hector said: “We didn’t defend very well when we conceded. The ultimate consistency was also missing in the pits.”
Because there was zero at the back, another negative series ended for the Stuttgart team. For the first time since April 3, 2021, they did not concede a goal in a home game. Bredlow also played a large part in this. The 27-year-old, who started the season as a substitute keeper, was between the posts for the second time in a row, although the actual goalkeeper Florian Müller had recovered from his stomach problems.
Yellow for Cologne coach Baumgart
Bredlow was tested in front of 46,850 spectators just after six minutes. He mastered the test against the promoted Cologne full-back Benno Schmitz without any problems. On the other side, the first successful attack immediately led to the lead. After a one-two with Genki Haraguchi, Dias scored.
Cologne’s coach Steffen Baumgart had also expected “an emotional game” because of the duel in the previous season, and it got emotional when his player Jeff Chabot clashed with Silas Katompa Mvumpa. Both professionals saw yellow, and Baumgart also got a warning after a loud complaint (23rd).
VfB attacked early, but after a few individual mistakes in the past few weeks, the defense rarely showed security. Only once did Stuttgart manage not to concede a goal this season. The opponent in the first half of the season was: Cologne.
“This day is another test to fight against the resistance, which of course also takes place in the head,” said Labbadia in an interview on Sky before the game. “Of course it makes a big difference if you have self-confidence.”
The in-form visitors have that confidence. They worked on the first goal, but Bredlow again had the upper hand against Schmitz. (29th). Even after the break, the first scene belonged to the Domstadters, who wanted to turn the game with two new players. However, Florian Kainz put a free kick well wide of the goal (53′). But VfB also had opportunities to work out a more comfortable lead. Schwäbe defused an acrobatic finish by Haraguchi, and a little later captain Wataru Endo aimed too imprecisely.
The game now became more hectic and there was space for both teams. The Stuttgart side have given up the lead six times this season, more often than any other team in the league. But this time it should be different. Endo appeared in front of Schwäbe and was fouled by Schmitz just in time before the edge of the penalty area. Sosa converted the following free kick to make it 2-0, which was worth seeing, and then substitute Coulibaly made everything clear.
