Pokal holders Stuttgart book quarter-final spot with professional performance | OneFootball

Bochum head coach Uwe Rösler mentioned the idea of tonight's match being very much attack vs defence, and that proved to be the case early on, with Stuttgart looking to control the match as anticipated. 

Though Bochum were not without their opportunities, with Kjell Wätjen twisting and turning on the left-hand side of the box, before the Borussia Dortmund loanee forced a corner via a Jeff Chabot block. Before centre-back Noah Loosli saw a header saved by Fabian Bredlow.

As has been the case across German football in recent weeks, the Ruhrstadion remained silent during the opening 12 minutes in protest of today's IMK meeting regarding fan culture and safety. 

And with the clock about to reach the moment in which cacophonous noise would surround the Bochum air, the visitors would be the side celebrating. Ramon Hendriks launched a throw into the box, which would find the head of Bochum's Phillip Strompf - who unfortunately sent the ball looping over Timo Horn and into his own net. 

After Stuttgart's 37th goal of the season, Farid Alfa-Ruprecht had a big chance from distance following a neat ball. With Bredlow onrushing, the 19-year-old was able to lift the ball over the experienced goalkeeper, though the shot didn't carry the necessary accuracy to find the back of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, referee Florian Badstuber would be sent to the screen for a challenge on Deniz Undav by the aforementioned Strompf. The defender's night would go from bad to worse as he would receive a red card for preventing the Stuttgart striker from running through on goal.

After a sensational pyrotechnic display from the travelling Stuttgart supporters, the second half would get underway with Bochum looking to respond, while a man down.

Bochum's quest to respond would be made more difficult within a minute of play resuming, with Deniz Undav heading home from a delicious Jamie Leweling ball in front of the contingent from Cannstatt to double VfB's lead. 

Sebastian Hoeneß's men had Bochum exactly where they wanted them and were allowed to begin controlling the encounter with relative ease at the Ruhrstadion.

And they would continue to do so for the remainder of the clash. And while Uwe Rösler's side will know that their season doesn't rest on tonight, disappointment will come from the fact that the damage was largely self-inflicted. 

The DFB-Pokal holders' quest for a second triumph in a row goes on, with Stuttgart booking their quarter-final place on the road.