VfB Stuttgart
Botev Plovdiv
Veselin Minev
Stats Play-off stalemate
In what was to become a nerve-biting clash, neither VfB nor Botev Plovdiv could find the target and, as a result, the Bundesliga side progressed in the UEFA Europa League thanks to last week’s 1-1 draw.
Bruno Labbadia made two changes to the side that started in the DFB-Cup. The slightly injured Vedad Ibisevic took a place on the bench and was replaced by Mohammed Abdellaoue, whilst Arthur Boka filled in for Moritz Leitner in the starting eleven.
The first opening of the game fell to VfB, following a corner. At the second attempt, Alexandru Maxim swung in a cross which Georg Niedermeier met in the middle, but the centre half was unable to keep his effort on target (5‘).
Diashow
Plovdiv hold their own
The Bulgarian side knew their chance of progressing was there for the taking and were always within touching distance, testing Sven Ulreich most notably in the 34th minute but the VfB keeper stood his ground and the sides went in at the break locked in stalemate.
Martin Harnik makes a difference
Martin Harnik was brought in at the break to replace Alexandru Maxim and immediately made an impact on VfB’s game. Georg Niedermeier picked up a knock following a clash and was pulled out with fears of damage to the inner ligaments of his knee.
With just over an hour on the clock, the VfB fans were on their feet and ready to celebrate but Cacau’s lunge failed to make contact and the ball zipped wide of the upright (62’). A minute later Antonio Rüdiger was introduced as the new central defender.
Bruno Labbadia: "We completely slept through the first half. We were better after the break and battled our way into the game" Post match comments
Ulreich to the rescue
In the 72nd minute, the away fans were then celebrating, but the referee called back Boban Grncharov’s effort as off-side. It had developed into a tight game which could quite easily have gone either way at any point during the second half of the tie.
The next opening fell to VfB, but Ibrahima Traoré proved off target with his left-footed effort (85‘). In added time, Sven Ulreich was then called upon to rescue VfB and hang onto the 0-0 draw against Botev Plovdiv, which saw VfB through to the next round of the UEFA Europa League.
