Demirovic Shines: Stuttgart Beat St. Pauli | Bundesliga Recap

Off, cucumber elf, liberation
Polarizing top striker redeems VfB Stuttgart

September 19, 2025, 10:55 p.m.

VfB Stuttgart celebrates an important victory in the Bundesliga. Against FC St. Pauli, the bad luck is initially on the side of the Swabians. But then Medin Demirovic briefly meets the largely harmless guests from Hamburg at the break.

Ermedin Demirovic and VfB Stuttgart prevented the leap from FC St. Pauli to the top of the Bundesliga in the top of the Bundesliga. After his stuttering start into the season, the DFB Cup winner got the “calm” with a 2-0 (1: 0) success of the coach Sebastian Hoeneß. In addition, VfB added the first defeat to the heavily started Hamburgers, who could have climbed to first place for one night.

“It was the reaction it needed,” said Stuttgart’s sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth at Sky. During the week, the tone was “a bit sharper”. This time, the team showed “more energy, more willingness to run” from the start. The victory is “absolutely deserved”.

At first it seemed as if Angelo Stiller was going to become an unfortunate figure of the evening. Only after 25 minutes the international shot a penalty and a little later he failed freely in front of guest goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (29th). But thanks to Demirovic (43.) and Bilal El Khannouss (50th), the Swabians were able to cheer in front of 60,000 spectators. There were no further goals from Demirovic and Stiller due to offendations.

VfB captain on the bench

Attack Demirovic wore the captain’s armband instead of Atakan Karazor. The 28-year-old had to give way in the center for newcomer Chema Andrés, who had scored the winning goal in the only season success against Borussia Mönchengladbach-a courageous change from VfB coach Hoeneß. The Hamburgers mostly tried it over the outside, but rarely found a teammate with their crossings. It was most dangerous when VfB defender Jeff Chabot clarified a cross towards his own goal to the corner.

The back team of St. Paulians – especially Eric Smith had more to do. The defense chief tried to prevent Tiago Tomás from the goal. With his tackle, however, he met the Portuguese, who thankfully accepted the contact. Referee Sascha Stegemann pointed to the point, but Stiller missed the great opportunity to lead. For Vasilj, it was the sixth of his Bundesliga career in seven attempts.

It did better from VfB perspective Demirovic, who held out against several opponents and achieved the lead. The 27-year-old has been focusing on Nick Woltemade towards Newcastle United and Deniz Undav’s injury. In public perception, the national player Bosnia-Herzegovina is often negatively rated-despite his 15 league goals in the previous year and his four competitive goals this season. The second sense of achievement should be good for the striker within a week after he recently met with a hoe at 1: 3 in Freiburg.

Baden-Württemberg no longer a good place

In the previous season St. Pauli won all four away games in Baden -Württemberg – including the 1-0 in Stuttgart. This time the team of ex-VfB professional Alexander Blessin lacked the punch. Even after the break, the North Germans initially struggled and promptly collected the next dampers. This time Demirovic shone as a template for El Khannouss.

Only after the second setback did the guests show up again in the opposing penalty area. But when Louis Oppie was completed, the latte saved (52nd). It was the starting shot of the best phase of St. Pauli, which was only short -lived. VfB keeper Alexander Nübel has now been challenged several times, but could not be conquered that evening. However, VfB also tried to add. Demirovic set a degree too high and stood in the offside in Stiller’s supposed 3: 0.