Bundesliga Europa League Player Ratings | Stuttgart 1-2 Porto | OneFootball

After advancing past Celtic in the playoffs on aggregate, Bundesliga Europa League representatives VfB Stuttgart kicked off their UEL Round-of-16 tie against FC Porto at home on Thursday evening. Sebastian Hoeneß’ Swabians put up a determined fight against their guests, but ultimately weren’t able to overcome an error-riddled seven minute spell during the first half that saw them concede two goals against their guests. The match ended in a 1-2 home loss.

Stuttgart will feel hard done by after a 2-2 equalizer was disallowed late in the second half under spurious circumstances. Given that the Bundesliga team could have easily been punished harder for their sloppy play during most of the first half, the final scoreline largely feels like a fair result.

Stuttgart with plenty of early intent

The German hosts pressed forward with plenty of intensity in the early going. Jamie Leweling remained particularly active up front, nearly setting up Ermedin Demirovic for the opening goal in the 13th-minute, then having an intrepid go from distance himself four minutes later. The very much in-form German international popping up just about everywhere out of Hoeneß’ tightly constructed 4-2-2-2. It looked as if it would only be a matter of time before Leweling somehow helped Stuttgart take a deserved lead. Totally against the run of play, however, the match suddenly shifted the other way.

Porto pack a swift punch

On the very first chance at the game at the other end, William Gomes struck the crossbar from about 18 meters out in the 20th-minute. Less than sixty seconds later, a poor clearance from VfB keeper Alexander Nübel enabled Terem Moffi to quickly get back into the box and slot home the 0-1 before Nübel could properly regain his bearings. The visitors then proceeded to strike twice in quick succession. Once again, Stuttgart appeared unfocused.

VfB defender Jeff Chabot – clearly off his game on this evening – sent a switch directly at Porto’s Zaidu. Happily accepting the gift, Zaidu sliced through the defensive ranks and set up Rodrigo Mora for the second goal in the 27th-minute. Mora did well to polish off Zaidu’s silky smooth cross with a neat inside-sole first-time finish. After putting together a solid opening phase, the hosts found themselves shocked in seven minutes and down 0-2.

Deniz Undav eventually punches back

Stuttgart could count themselves lucky that more mistakes didn’t lead to Porto completely doing them in. Hoeneß crew looked completely rattled and continued to make mental errors in possession and passing. The guests were nevertheless themselves hindered by injury timeouts that inhibited their ability to keep flow. Zaidu – much to the chagrin of the home crowd – required treatment on more than one occasion.

Five minutes before the end of the opening 45, a decent VfB team-attack-charge ultimately allowed the Germans to get back into the game. Deniz Undav – taking advantage of a deflection at the end of the series that placed the ball at his feet, calmly let the ball bounce whilst preparing a highly technical tricycle-finish. Undav’s sleek 40th minute 1-2 is certainly something Julian Nagelsmann may wish to take note of.

Stuttgart see an equalizer disallowed

More injury timeouts and foul interruptions prevented matters from really getting going. Both teams leaned heavily into the duels, yielding a match that didn’t produce any highlights. There was at least some entertainment value in the highly intense physical nature of proceedings. It did appear as if Stuttgart had equalized off a set piece in the 72nd-minute,

Chabot put a Bilal El Khannouss free-kick on target after a scramble in front of the net of Porto keeper Diogo Costa. Angelo Stiller rushed forward to poke in the rebound of Chabot’s effort. Unfortunately, celebrations were short lived. After VAR review, match official Donatas Rumsas ruled that VfB substitute Tiago Tomas – in an offside position – obstructed the keeper.

Stuttgart fight, yet fizzle

To their credit, Hoeneß’ team pushed forward courageously in search of an equalizer. Tomas’ fellow sub Chris Führich (also fighting to regain his place on the German national team) got two decent efforts off in the final ten minutes. Führich tried again from distance as the game went into second half injury time. Apart from the Führich shots, Francesco Farioli’s men kept compact and steadily choked the Germans out.

VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings

Alexander Nübel (4) –  Ramon Hendriks (4), Jeff Chabot (4), Finn Jeltsch (5), Nikolas Nartey (6) – Angelo Stiller (6), Atakan Karazor (4) – Jamie Leweling (6), Bilal El Khannouss (6)  – Ermedin Demirovic (5), Deniz Undav (7)

Substitutes: Tiago Tomas (3), Chris Führich (7), Luca Jaquez (-), Maximilian Mittelstädt (-)

GGFN Bundesliga Player of the Match: Deniz Undav (7)

For the Bundesliga representatives, there are actually plenty of positives to take away from the result. Undav and his fellow former German national team colleague Führich both earn (7) level marks. Leweling might have easily secured this grade level or higher for himself had he been able to sustain his early form.

Undav did largely well deployed alongside Ermedin Demirovic in a double striker set, fashioning two scoring chances out of nothing and dazzling on his side’s lone goal. The six-times-capped German international’s hard work on deeper drops enabled him to rack up 37 touches, complete 24 passes, and get the ball out of the midfield with two long dribbles.

GGFN | Peter Weis