VfB Stuttgart
| 1-0 | Cacau | (78. Min) |
1. FC Nürnberg
Maza
Stats 
Hard-fought victory
A mediocre performance by VfB proved enough on Sunday against a courageous 1. FC Nürnberg to secure an important 1-0 home win. In particular during the first half of the game, Bruno Labbadia’s men had the luck on their side more than once, as the visitors failed to make use of a number of extremely good opportunities. In the second half, VfB played notably more to their strengths, kept FCN at bay and carved out one good opening, which Cacau converted to secure all three points.
As was to be expected, VfB made just two changes to the side that beat Hoffenheim 2-1 in Sinsheim last weekend. Arthur Boka, making his 100th Bundesliga appearance, replaced the injured Khalid Boulahrouz (broken toe) at left back, with Gotoku Sakai moving out to the right, and Cacau filled the gap left up front by the suspended Vedad Ibisevic.
Javier Pinola had the first strike on goal in the game after just two minutes, but the once again on form Sven Ulreich had no problems in dealing with the Argentine’s shot. It took until the 19th minute before the home side got a first real sight of Raphael Schäfer’s goal, but Maza’s header flew high over the crossbar. Minutes later, Maza set up the next chance for VfB with a header, but Schieber wasn’t quick enough to react on the edge of the six yard box and the opportunity went a begging. At the other end, with Philipp Wollscheid heading a Hlousek delivery over, the sides went in at the break with the scores locked at 0-0.
Diashow
Fifth yellow card for Cacau
After the re-start, VfB showed a reaction to the lack-luster first half, fought their way back into the game and quickly had their first effort on goal. Schieber nodded on to Harnik but the Austrian’s shot from 20 meters out missed the target. With the exception of a headed effort by Esswein in the 57th minute, which landed on the roof of the net, FCN produced little in attack.
Goal-scorer Cacau: "Today you could say that the win was lucky."
Post macht comments
At the other end though, things looked different for VfB, who will be without Cacau next weekend with the striker picking up his fifth yellow card. In the 61st minute, Harnik made a high tempo burst into the FCN box but was denied by the outstretched foot of Raphael Schäfer. For a period, there was little action in the almost capacity filled Mercedes-Benz Arena, until the 78th minute, when Tamas Hajnal proved his worth, threading an inch perfect ball into the run of Cacau, and the German international tucked his shot away neatly from 15 meters out to make it 1-0.
The visitors from Nuremberg threw everything into attack but could find no way through and VfB went on to win 1-0, proving that even an average performance can at times be enough to secure three points.