VfB Stuttgart will probably have to prepare for the unpopular playoffs in the Europa League. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team lost 0-2 (0-1) at AS Roma and missed their target of making it into the top eight. This means that the Swabians will have to rely on mistakes from several competitors when the league phase ends next Thursday in order to secure direct qualification for the round of 16.
Niccolo Pisilli (40th, 90th + 3) inflicted a deserved defeat on VfB, who missed several chances to equalize in the second half, after three European Cup victories in a row. In the final group game against Young Boys Bern, the Stuttgart team, with currently twelve points, needs at least one win of their own in order to maintain their hope of making it directly to the round of the last 16.
At the Stadio Olimpico, VfB had to do without Angelo Stiller; the midfielder was missing from the squad due to groin problems and was replaced by Chema Andrés. After a promising start for Stuttgart, Roma took control of the game, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini resting some of the regulars ahead of the important league game at AC Milan next Sunday.
With the exception of a chance for Jamie Leweling (34th), the defensively strong hosts didn’t allow anything and repeatedly combined to move forward in a way that was worth seeing. Pisilli’s lead was well deserved, Alexander Nübel subsequently prevented Lorenzo Pellegrini (43′) from falling even further behind. It was only after the break that VfB had chances again, especially through Deniz Undav. However, the striker was initially denied by Roma keeper Mila Svilar (47′) and then missed, completely unmarked, from close range (58′) – just like substitute Ermedin Demirovic (79′). Pisilli made everything clear on the other side.
Parts of Freiburg’s active fan scene are boycotting the home game
SC Freiburg, however, can almost plan for the round of 16 despite a shaky performance. Julian Schuster’s team won the explosive home game against the Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 (0-0) and can therefore hardly be pushed out of one of the top eight places before the last match day. If everything doesn’t go against Breisgauer in the competitors’ games, the 17 points will be enough.
Igor Matanovic (82nd) scored late for the unconvincing sports club, which remained unbeaten in the seventh game of the league phase. The coach and his team can now use February for two more complete weeks of training instead of the detour of the playoffs. The round of 16 will take place on March 12th and 19th, but next Thursday (9 p.m.) there is still the last game of the league phase at OSC Lille.
Due to increased security precautions due to the political situation, parts of Freiburg’s active fan scene boycotted the home game, and numerous supporters only came into the stadium after kick-off due to the extensive controls. “Unfortunately, the reality is so sad that you have to take these safety precautions,” said Schuster: “We have to accept that.”
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