Botev Plovdiv
| 1-1 | Domovchiyski | (73. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 0-1 | Ibisevic | (67. Min) |
Konstantin Rausch
Stats 
Timo Werner in action during the game.
All square with Botev Plovdic
In the first competitive game of the new season, VfB played out a 1-1 draw with Bulgarian representatives Botev Plovdiv. In the first leg of the third qualifying round clash in the UEFA Europa League, Vedad Ibisevic was on target for Bruno Labbadia’s side.
An expectedly tough tie
Bruno Labbadia had to make do without Martin Harnik, Christian Gentner, Sercan Sararer, Patrick Funk, Marco Rojas, Gotoku Sakai and Benedikt Röcker due to injury. In front of a crowd of 6,000, both sides got stuck into a physical affair, which saw both sides locked in stalemate at 0-0 going into the break.
Ibisevic opens the scoring
In the 67th minute, substitute Alexandru Maxim’s first touch of the ball was to prove telling. The young midfielder swung in a free-kick from the left side of the Botev penalty area and found Vedad Ibisevic, who rose to turn the ball home with head and shoulder – 1-0! Shortly afterwards, Daniel Schwaab could have doubled the VfB advantage, but the new man’s effort narrowly missed the target (71‘).
Vedad Ibisevic: "That was definitely a tough game but that is what we had been expecting." Post match comments
Former Hertha BSC Berlin and Duisburg man Valeri Domovchiyski went one better in the 73rd minute to level the scores but just a minute later, the VfB fans were on their feet and ready to celebrate again but Alexandru Maxim was denied by Plovdiv keeper Adam Stachowiak, who touched the ball over the crossbar to hold the score at 1-1.
Return leg in Großaspach
The return leg in one week’s time will not take place at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, which is unplayable due to the upcoming Robbie Williams concert, but instead in Großaspach. The game at the comtech-Arena will get underway next Thursday at 8:20pm.
