VfB Stuttgart – Maccabi Tel Aviv 4:1 (2:0)
On matchday 6, VfB Stuttgart celebrated a clear victory in the Europa League. Against the Israeli first division club Maccabi Tel Aviv The DFB Cup winners won 4:1 (2:0) and thus took an important step towards the round of 16.
The game was accompanied by extensive security precautions and was considered a high-risk game due to fears of anti-Semitic riots. A large police presence secured the game, which, according to the police, went largely smoothly.
There was little sign of security measures on the pitch. Lorenz Assignon (24th minute) and Tiago Tomás (37th) laid the foundation for Stuttgart’s comfortable victory in the first half, as they kept the game under control from the start.
Stuttgart on the way to the knockout round
Shortly after the break, Maximilian Mittelstädt increased the score to 3-0 with a hand penalty (50th). However, a goalkeeping error by Alexander Nübel allowed Roy Revivo to score a short time later (52′). Stuttgart acted a little less confidently than in the first half. Just a few minutes later, Dor Peretz had a great chance to make the encounter exciting again, but he missed it. Instead, VfB carried the game over time and Josha Vagnoman’s late goal completed the result (90th+4).
VfB striker Deniz Undav then criticized the collapse after the 3-0 win: “It’s a question of mentality,” he said. Nevertheless, his team is in a good position after six of eight games in the Europa League league phase. With twelve points, VfB has a good chance of making it into the top eight in the two remaining preliminary round games against AS Roma and against Bern and thus securing a direct place in the round of 16. VfB would love to avoid the two playoff games and thus two additional English weeks in February, if there are only enough places 9 to 24.
SC Freiburg – RB Salzburg 1:0 (0:0)
With the third win in the third home game of this year Europa League SC Freiburg made it into the round of 16 ahead of schedule. The Breisgauer team won 1-0 (0-0) against RB Salzburg and benefited from an early majority.
Freiburg started dangerously with several good long-range shots. Salzburg, on the other hand, slowed down a bit after a quick start. A sending off against striker Petar Ratkov (37th) made the game even more difficult for the Austrians.
This article will continue to be updated.
