Stuttgart rue missed chances in Hoffenheim draw | OneFootball

With over ten thousand travelling Stuttgart fans making the short trip to Sinsheim, the visitors could not have hoped for a better start in an all Baden-Württemberg clash.

Maximilian Mittelstädt expertly fired the ball into Deniz Undav, who dummied fantastically to send strike partner Nick Woltemade one-on-one before hammering home sensationally just nine minutes in.

Being the better side for large periods of the first half, die Schwaben came close to a second when Atakan Karazor forced a save out of Luca Phillip from the right-hand side of the box, who pushed the ball onto the post.

The subsequent scramble inside the box saw both Woltemade and Angelo Stiller have chances to add a second for VfB.

Despite a handful of half chances, Hoffenheim struggled to snatch a grip of the first half and entered the break a goal down.

In the early stages of the second half, the onus was on the visitors to continue the attempt to get back in their stride. Angelo Stiller came close to doubling Stuttgart's lead after some fantastic link-up with Undav. The German midfielder saw his right-footed effort inside the box saved by Phillip.

Chances were not high in numbers, however, the visitors found themselves with multiple scenarios to add a second, with both Undav and Woltemade at the centre of the action.

Stuttgart were then made to rue these exact chances. An uncharacteristic error from Jeff Chabot saw the ball end up at the feet of Gift Orban, who hammered home after twisting and turning past Maximilian Mittelstädt.

With the final period of the encounter finely poised, Stuttgart searched to claw back momentum, and just minutes after the equaliser, Undav forced a fantastic save out of Phillip, before Chris Führich frustratingly sent the ball flying just inches wide of the post.

As the clock continued to tick on, neither side was able to grab the full momentum of the encounter and particularly for Stuttgart, in which it just wasn't fully ticking in possession.

As three minutes of added time was announced, it was the visitors who continued attempting to force some late drama at the PreZero Arena. Once again, Woltemade was the focal point up front, however, matching the theme of the second half, it just was not sticking.

Hoffenheim came agonisingly close to grabbing a winner in the final minute of additional time as Haris Habakovic headed over the bar from inside the box.

Eventually playing out a 1-1 draw, a point sees Stuttgart locked in 7th, whilst Hoffenheim keep the gap to the relegation playoffs at 7 points.