VfB Stuttgart
| 1-0 | Didavi | (59. Min) |
FC Ingolstadt 04
Martin Harnik
Serey Dié
Stats 
Timo Werner in a duel with Marvin Matip.
First home points
Finally! In the fifth home game of the season, the fans packed into the Mercedes-Benz Arena finally celebrated a home success. The crowd of 45,700 saw a physically affair with relatively few clear chances on goal at either end. From one of the few openings in the match, Daniel Didavi was on target to relieve both the team and the VfB supporters.
The low-down
Prior to the international break, the Cannstatt Boys snatched a last minute goal in Sinsheim to earn themselves a share of the spoils. Going into their fifth home game of the campaign, VfB had just four points to their credit, but the plan was to secure the next three points in front of the home fans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The Bundesliga new-boys from Ingolstadt made the trip to Stuttgart with a strong away tally. From four games on opposition turf, trainer Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men had taken ten points. With a total of 14 points on the board, FCI went into their ninth game in the top flight in sixth place.
Personnel
Alexander Zorniger stuck with the same eleven that began the clash with TSG Hoffenheim a fortnight ago. VfB captain Christian Gentner (Achilles tendon problem) and Filip Kostic (muscle sinew tear) are still not available for selection.
The guests from Ingolstadt made three changes to their starting eleven. Roger was forced out of the squad through injury, whilst Moritz Hartmann and Max Christiansen took places on the bench. On the day Alfredo Morales, Stefan Lex and Romain Bregerie got the nod from the outset.
Statement
Alexander Zorniger: "We are delighted about the three points, which provide us with some breathing room ahead of next week’s trip to Leverkusen."
Post-match comments
Highlights
3rd minute: The game begins with a shock for Alexander Zorniger’s eleven: Following a challenge in the VfB penalty area, referee Guido Winkmann awards a spot-kick for the visitors. Mathew Leckie takes on the responsibility from the spot, but is denied by the legs of Przemyslaw Tyton.
45th minute: The action in both goal-areas is unfortunately rare. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Daniel Didavi fired in a shot from the edge of the box, only narrowly failing to hit the target and both sides duly head into the break locked in stalemate. In the first half, the Cannstatt Boys were the more determined of the two teams and had a slight advantage getting forward, but Ingolstadt remained a danger from their pacy switching of play.
59th minute: The lead for VfB! From a wonderful ball to switch the play to the opposite wing, Florian Klein cut inside and fired towards goal, where Daniel Didavi got on the end of the delivery to toe-poke the ball past the Ingolstadt keeper, much to the pleasure of the bulk of the 45,700 spectators in the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
86th minute: Serey Dié is sent for an early shower. The Ivory Coast international sees a second yellow for a further foul and is duly dismissed.
90th minute: The closing minutes are hectic and unbelievably nail-biting. VfB again and again prevent the attacking efforts of the visitors and hang on to secure the first home win of the Bundesliga season for the Cannstatt Boys.
Round-up
It was a deserved win for VfB on the day. Deserved because coach Alexander Zorniger’s side found the balance between patient attack and solid defence against a tough opponent. FC Ingolstadt made it difficult for the hosts to find chinks in their defensive chain, but the Cannstatt Boys never gave up the search and made use of one of the few chances that presented itself. At the other end, VfB kept a cool head and managed to see out an offensive surge from FCI in the closing phase, to pick-up their first win of the season without conceding a goal. One very important factor in that was indeed the penalty save by Przemyslaw Tyton. At the end, there was a mixture of joy and relief amongst the VfB team and supporters. The win sees Alexander Zorniger’s side not only leave bottom spot in the table, but pull out of the drop-zone altogether.
