VfB Stuttgart
| 1-0 | Ginczek | (24. Min) |
| 2-0 | Harnik | (27. Min) |
SC Freiburg
| 2-1 | Petersen | (58. Min) |
| 2-2 | Petersen | (85. Min) |
Timo Baumgartl
Adam Hlousek
Stats 
Gente & Dida after the game against Freiburg.
Frustrating draw
In what was the 32nd Baden-Württemberg derby in the Bundesliga, VfB played host to SC Freiburg at a capacity filled Mercedes-Benz Arena. In an extremely tense affair, Huub Stevens‘ men took a deserved two-goal advantage into the break, but reduced to ten men in the second half, the hosts conceded a bitterly painful equaliser.
The VfB bus was greeted before the game by a fan created guard of honour on the way into the bowels of the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Prior to kick-off, there was a minutes applause held in the arena to honour club legend Erwin Waldner, who sadly passed away last Saturday.
VfB dominate
Stevens made three changes to the side that began against Augsburg, with Antonio Rüdiger, who was struck down by flu, being replaced by Timo Baumgartl, whilst Martin Harnik returned up front and Oriol Romeu coming in in place of the suspended Serey Dié.
The home team got off to a positive start and had the bulk of the possession, but it took until the 20th minute before they could really threaten the Freiburg goal, with Martin Harnik forcing a save from Roman Bürki. Five minutes later, the VfB fans were off their seats and celebrating, when the Austrian international fed Daniel Ginczek, who made no mistake and fired home to put the hosts in the driving seat.
As if to make a clear point of their dominance, the Cannstatt Boys hit again just minutes later to double their advantage. Filip Kostic broke on the left and squad for Harnik to slot home from close range – 2-0 (27‘). VfB were more aggressive, quicker and more determined than their opponents, as they looked to confirm that they know just what is required of them in the relegation battle.
Huub Stevens: "I am simply stunned that we could throw away a game like that. I could see that coming in the first half and I commented on it at the break. Apparently I was just talking to the wall."
Post match comments
There was a further chance for Christian Gentner and Martin Harnik, who both failed to make contact with an Alexandru Maxim corner, but VfB went in at the break to a deserved and rapturous reaction from the home fans.
Freiburg bounce back
The second period was a more open affair from the outset, with SC playing a more active attacking role. VfB had the initial openings though, with Martin Harnik (54‘) and Daniel Ginczek (55‘) narrowly missing out, but then the guests were awarded a penalty, which was neatly tucked away by Nils Petersen, to put Freiburg back within touching distance (58‘).
In the 66th minute, VfB were then reduced to ten men, when Adam Hlousek received a second booking. Huub Stevens reacted by bringing Daniel Schwaab in for Alexandru Maxim (68‘) and, ten minutes later, Daniel Didavi celebrated his comeback in the shirt with the infamous red hoop.
With the fans loudly getting behind their team, SC’s extra man initially had little effect, but with five minutes to go, a mishit effort from Nils Petersen made its way past Ulreich, to put the visitors level. There was to be no further change in score and VfB were disappointingly left with just a share of the spoils in an intensively played Baden-Württemberg derby.
