VfB Stuttgart
Hertha BSC
John Heitinga
Nico Schulz
Stats 
Timo Werner in action during the game.
Stalemate!
To kick-off the 24th match day of Bundesliga season, VfB played host to Hertha BSC. The Cannstatt Boys dominated the game over the duration, battled, ran and bravely created openings but were unable to find the net. The game was thus to finish in a 0-0 draw.
Huub Stevens made two changes to his starting eleven from last weekend. Martin Harnik was suspended for the tie, whilst Gotoku Sakai took up a place on the substitute’s bench, with Filip Kostic and Adam Hlousek coming into the side from the outset. Huub Stevens’ men dominated the early phase of the match with commitment, controlled attacking and constant tempo changes.
VfB put the pressure on
The hosts had three chances to open the scoring in the first quarter hour, but neither Filip Kostic (6‘) nor twice Timo Werner (11‘ and 14‘) could break the deadlock. The Cannstatt Boys put their guests from Berlin under increasing pressure, creating two headed opportunities for Christian Gentner following deliveries from first Alexandru Maxim (19’) and then Daniel Ginczek (25’), but the captain could not find a way past the Hertha keeper and the sides went in at the break with the score-line still at 0-0.
Post match comments
Huub Stevens: "We are not satisfied with just one point, but you can also lose games like that one. It carries on from here though and will continue to get more difficult."
Post match comments
Chances in abundance
In footballing terms, the 60th minute was then notable, with Daniel Schwaab getting a shot away, but failing to hit the target. Just a minute later, Adam Hlousek‘s header from a Filip Kostic free-kick delivery was blocked away. Hertha keeper Thomas Kraft was called upon in the 63rd minute, to stop an effort from Daniel Ginczek.
VfB were in control of proceedings once again and Vedad Ibisevic was introduced to add a further option up front, replacing Daniel Ginczek, who had worked extremely hard (68‘). With the closing phase approaching, Filip Kostic curled a free-kick just high of the mark (70’) and Thomas Kraft denied Daniel Schwaab’s header (72’). The tally of 14:3 shots on goal by this stage of the game was a clear signal as to the flow and direction of the match – but the goal remained elusive for the Cannstatt Boys.
Bundesliga debut for Kiesewetter
In the 81st minute, Hertha had their best chance to break the deadlock, but luckily for the home side, Nico Schulz turned his effort wide of the far post. Jerome Kieswetter was then brought in to replace Filip Kostic, allowing the Berlin born youngster to make his Bundesliga debut against the club from his hometown. The VfB players had battled for every centimetre on the pitch and could surely feel their muscles burning, but the pressed on in search of a winner right to the final whistle.
Injury-time = seven minutes! Moritz Leitner replace Serey Dié for one last attacking move by the hosts, and the VfB fans rose to the occasion to get behind their side for one final push, but there was to be no way through on the night and the 24th match day of the season ended for VfB in a 0-0 draw.
