VfB Stuttgart was delighted on home soil on Saturday afternoon. Die Schwaben secured three points against VfL Bochum after goals from Chris Führich and Justin Diehl made the difference for Sebastian Hoeneß’s men.
Heading into the fixture, Stuttgart sought to bounce back from a narrow 3-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, while Bochum remained frustrated. The visitors arrived winless after ten Bundesliga matches, a rather grim record in their top-flight history. With both teams aiming to alter their trajectories, Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß set his side up in their usual system, aiming to dominate possession and control proceedings. At the same time, Bochum adopted a more conservative approach under pressure.
First-half
The opening half showcased Stuttgart’s attacking intent, with the home side pressing Bochum back into their defensive third. Chris Führich spearheaded the offensive charge, orchestrating dangerous movements and keeping Bochum’s backline under constant pressure. One of Stuttgart’s best opportunities came in the 17th minute when Jeff Chabot connected with a well-delivered free-kick from Maximilian Mittelstädt, only to see his powerful header crash off the crossbar.
Embed from Getty ImagesBochum, content to defend deep and counter sporadically, rarely threatened in attack. Although Stuttgart’s dominance was evident in both possession and chances created, the visitors held firm, keeping the match goalless as the teams headed into the break.
Second-half
The hosts’ persistence bore fruit in the 53rd minute, courtesy of Stuttgart’s player of the match, Chris Führich. Receiving the ball wide on the left, the 26-year-old cut inside precisely and unleashed a thunderous strike that left Bochum goalkeeper Patrick Drewes rooted as it flew into the far corner. Führich’s goal reflected his stellar performance, rewarding Stuttgart’s dominance and forcing Bochum to shift gears in search of an equaliser.
As Bochum began to press higher, Stuttgart found more space to exploit, with the change in dynamic opening up opportunities for the hosts to strike on the counter.
In the 77th minute, Sebastian Hoeneß made a tactical substitution, introducing Justin Diehl. The youngster wasted no time, making an immediate impact by scoring just 19 seconds after stepping onto the pitch. Played through by fellow substitute Fabian Rieder, Diehl calmly slotted the ball past Drewes, doubling Stuttgart’s advantage. The goal not only marked Diehl’s first in the Bundesliga but also brought an air of calmness to supporters after injuries to both Deniz Undav and El-Bilal Toure during the international break caused a flurry of worries heading into the January transfer window.
Desperate to salvage something from the game, Bochum pushed forward aggressively in the final moments—however, Stuttgart’s well-organised defence held firm, neutralising the visitors’ limited attacking efforts. The tension on the pitch boiled over with several players receiving yellow cards, including Bochum’s Matúš Bero in the closing minutes. Still, Stuttgart maintained their composure to see out a deserved win.
Player of the Match: Chris Führich
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Recovering from his subpar start to the season, Chris Führich was instrumental in Stuttgart’s success against their Westphallen visitors. He delivered a standout performance highlighting just how talented the German international is.
His dazzling goal broke the deadlock and set the tone for the victory, while his tireless work rate and creativity continually troubled Bochum’s defence. Führich’s contributions extended beyond scoring, as he completed the most passes in attacking areas and won key duels throughout the match.
With this 2-0 win, Stuttgart are somewhat back on track in their Bundesliga campaign after an inconsistent run heading into the international break. Their attacking dominance and astute substitutions proved too much for a struggling Bochum side still searching for their first win of the season. For Hoeneß’s men, the result showcased their depth and resilience, while Bochum left with more questions than answers.
Stuttgart will focus on Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against Red Star Belgrade while struggling Bochum will look ahead to another trip south next weekend when they face Augsburg.