Borussia Dortmund
VfB Stuttgart
Raphael Holzhauser
Stats 
Ibrahima Traoré in action.
Dem Meister ein Remis abgetrotzt
A satisfying result for VfB! The 0-0 away to Borussia Dortmund was the result of a solid performance against the German champions, with VfB battling hard as a team and Sven Ureich again proving his worth between the posts.
Bruno Labbadia brought Arthur Boka back into the starting eleven but otherwise sent out the same side that began in the Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. The trainer also had Gotoku Sakai available again, with the Japanese international having recovered from a ligament injury.
With just over a minute played at the Signal-Iduna-Park, where a crowd of 80,645 had gathered, Christian Gentner got the first sight of goal, firing in a shot from 25 meters out which Roman Weidenfeller dealt with well. It was the starting shot to fire up the 6,200 travelling fans.
VfB goal-keeper Sven Ulreich: “I’m delighted that we took a point from the German champions – that’s not easy in front of such a massive crowd. Post match comments
The next two attempts on goal were then at the other end, but neither Ilkay Gündogan nor Mario Götze could trouble Sven Ulreich. The pace of the game remained high and VfB were well capable of holding their own, with Christian Gentner having a shot blocked (6’) and Martin Harnik failing to make sufficient contact from a promising position (7’).
Attacking start
VfB were aggressive in their approach, winning 66% of their challenges in the opening quarter hour. As the half progressed though, the game lost its momentum and as the number of niggling fouls increased, the quality of football suffered. Raphael Holzhauser had VfB’s next chance on goal in the 27th minute, but the effort proved well wide of the mark and the sides went in at the break locked in stalemate – 0-0!
Sven Ulreich once again put in an exceptional performance.
Ulreich to the rescue - again
The next two attempts on goal in the game fell to the home side in the form of Marco Reus and Ilkay Gündogan (51’ and 52’), but neither could find the target. Following a further BVB effort through Mats Hummels, substitute Julian Schieber broke away in front of the VfB goal but Sven Ulreich was quick to react and deny his former team mate (60’).
With twenty minutes to go, Zdravko Kuzmanovic replaced Raphael Holzhauser and very soon after, a headed pass from Martin Harnik put Vedad Ibisevic through with only Roman Weidenfeller to beat but the BVB keeper was quick to narrow down his angles and the VfB striker could only blast his shot against the on-rushing goalkeeper (74’).
VfB were creating again not long after, but Ibrahima Traoré’s shot, following an Ibisevic delivery, was blocked away for a corner (79’). The reigning champions then upped the pressure. Robert Lewandowski broke into the box and fired in a shot which took a slight deflection off Serdar Tasci’s thigh and eluded Sven Ulreich, but then crashed against the crossbar and away (88’). It was to prove the last real opening of the game and VfB could make their way back to Stuttgart with a hard-earned point in the bag.
