VfB Stuttgart is in danger of missing out on direct qualification for the round of 16 in the Europa League. With the 0:2 (0:1) in the difficult away task at AS Roma, the DFB Cup winners suffered a setback. The minimum goal of taking four points from the last two league phase games of the competition was out of reach.
“We have to look after ourselves. In the end you have to score the goals, the chances were there,” said Hoeneß on RTL: “It’s a bitter evening for us”
Niccolò Pisilli (40th minute/90th+3) decided the game in the Italian capital in favor of the Romans with his two goals. After the third defeat in the seventh game, VfB remains outside the top eight before the preliminary round final next Thursday at home against the Swiss club Young Boys Bern. This means that the Swabian Bundesliga club would have to survive two intermediate round games in order to make it into the top 16.
For coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s Swabians, it was their first defeat in 2026 after a successful start to the new year in the Bundesliga with seven points from three games.
Even without Angelo Stiller, the Stuttgart team dominated the early stages of the duel between the fourth-placed team in the Bundesliga and the fourth-placed team in Serie A. The Swabians remained harmless against the dense defense. A shot from Jamie Leweling was the best chance in the first half (33′).
“Of course the hurdle is extremely high today”
Due to injury, Hoeneß had to do without top performer Stiller. The midfielder was missing from the squad due to his groin problem. He was replaced in the starting line-up by the young Chema Andrés, who had barely featured recently.
“Of course the hurdle is extremely high today,” said sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth shortly before kick-off on RTL, but said hopefully: “I think on a good day there is more to it than a draw.”
But after almost 20 minutes the hosts got into the game better. However, VfB seemed to still have the game under control, but then fell behind. When a pass went deep, the gap in the defensive line was too big. Pisilli sank the ball – deflected by VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel – under the crossbar. Nübel then had to save his team from losing 2-0.
Untapped opportunities
After the break, national striker Deniz Undav could have made more of his chance. A free kick from Chris Führich got stuck. The rebound landed at Undav, who hit the ball well over the goal (58th). The Swabians continued to struggle to find gaps in front of around 4,000 VfB fans who had traveled with them.
“Roma is one of the best teams in the Europa League, they play maturely and maturely, and they are also very ripped off,” Hoeneß had warned. And his team couldn’t take the point they had hoped for – also because substitute Ermedin Demirovic failed from close range with just under a quarter of an hour to go.
