VfB Stuttgart
| 1-1 | Klein | (32. Min) |
| 2-3 | Niedermeier | (90.+1. Min) |
Borussia Dortmund
| 0-1 | Aubameyang | (25. Min) |
| 1-2 | Gündogan | (39. Min) |
| 1-3 | Reus | (89. Min) |
Shinji Kagawa
Stats 
Home debut for VfB: Serey Dié.
Turbulent finish
To kick off match day 22, VfB played host to Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening. The game, in front of a capacity crowd, had a turbulent finish, with goals at either end. Ultimately though, VfB were left empty-handed from a 2-3 (1-2) defeat.
Huub Stevens made three changes to the side that began against TSG Hoffenheim, with suspended captain Christian Gentner being deputised by Georg Niedermeier on the night. Moritz Leitner and Oriol Romeu took places on the substitute’s bench, to make way for Serey Dié – on his starting eleven and home debut for VfB -, whilst Carlos Gruezo – for the first time this year – and Daniel Schwaab getting the nod from the outset.
Evenly match start
Timo Werner made his 50th Bundesliga appearance, to become the youngest player ever to achieve that tally in the top-flight, at 18 years, 11 months and 14 days – taking over from previous record holder, FC Schalke’s Julian Draxler.
In the opening quarter hour, the two sides clashed at eye level, with both defences looking solid and allowing very little through. The capacity crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Arena were treated to little by the way of attempts on goal, but that did little to dampen a wonderful atmosphere under the floodlights. The VfB fans were the chanting Sven Ulreich’s name in the twelfth minute, when the keeper pulled off a spectacular save from Nuri Sahin.
Huub Stevens: "When you make that many mistakes, you make the opponent stronger."
Post match comments
Klein equalises Aubameyang opener
At the other end, got a header in on the BVB goal, but without the required precision (16‘). On 25 minutes though, it was the visitors who were to take the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker was somewhat fortunate to receive the pass which lead to the goal, but a lack of determination in the defence’s prior tackling allowed Reus to thread the ball through.
Fired on by the extremely vocal home fans, Huub Stevens’ men quickly earned a chance to draw level, when Georg Niedermeier was dragged down in the box. Florian Klein took on the responsibility from the spot and fired home to make it 1-1 (32‘). Unfortunately the home sides joy was to prove short lived, as Ilkay Gündogan put BVB back in the driving seat just seven minutes later – an advantage which the visitors took into the break.
Georg Niedermeier reduces the deficit
In the second period, Moritz Leitner came in to replace Carlos Gruezo (56‘) and soon after, Adam Hlousek fired in the first shot in anger of the half. The move was started thanks to the determined tackling of VfB new-man Serey Dié, who powerfully won possession and then fed the winger (62’). The game dipped into something of a lull and, after eleven further minutes, Vedad Ibisevic was introduced for Adam Hlousek as a further attacking option. It was the striker’s 200th appearance in the Bundesliga.
In the 76th minute, Roman Weidenfeller had to be alert to intercept a delivery from Florian Klein and just a minute later, Sven Ulreich was called upon to stop a shot from Nuri Sahin. The final substitution for VfB was then made, with Filip Kostic replacing Daniel Schwaab, but with just a minute to go, Marco Reus increased Borussia’s lead to 3-1 (89’). VfB refused to thrown in the towel and pulled an injury time goal back through Georg Niedermeier, but it was to prove too little, too late for VfB, with the game finishing in a 2-3 defeat.
