Stuttgart’s persistence pays off as Demirović screamer sinks Freiburg | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart were rewarded for a dominant performance on Bundesliga matchday 20 as Ermedin Demirović’s stunning strike proved decisive in a hard-fought victory over SC Freiburg.

After controlling large parts of the contest - particularly in a one-sided first half - the hosts needed a moment of individual brilliance to break Freiburg’s resistance, with Demirović delivering in style to secure all three points.

Despite both sides carrying the burden of Thursday night action, Stuttgart looked the fresher and more energetic team throughout, rotating more effectively and consistently pinning Freiburg back. While Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu kept his side in the game with a string of outstanding saves, he could do nothing to prevent Demirović’s match-winning effort.

Here is our detailed match report for the game:

Match report: VfB Stuttgart vs. SC Freiburg

Despite both sides having played in European competition on Thursday, Stuttgart appeared the fresher team from the outset. Sebastian Hoeneß once again rotated his squad more heavily than Freiburg, a decision that paid dividends in terms of intensity and control.

The guests, however, also made their intentions clear as early as the 4th minute, when Suzuki tested Nübel with a powerful long-range effort that flew just over the crossbar. 

That chance aside, the first 15 minutes set the tone for quite the one-sided first half, with Stuttgart dictating the tempo and creating the clearer chances.

Stuttgart came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 20th minute. Following a corner, the ball dropped dangerously inside the Freiburg box, but Atubolu reacted superbly, clawing it away with a reflex save reminiscent of a handball goalkeeper.

The pressure continued to mount, and in the 28th minute Freiburg needed a last-ditch intervention from Matthias Ginter, who cleared the ball off the line to preserve the deadlock. By this point, Stuttgart were clearly the superior side, pinning Freiburg deep in their own half.

A minute later, Freiburg almost gifted Stuttgart the breakthrough. Atubolu misjudged a pass to a teammate, allowing Deniz Undav to pounce, but the forward failed to capitalise, dragging his shot narrowly wide of the post.

Atubolu made amends shortly before the break, producing another outstanding save in the 42nd minute to deny Nartey’s header and keep Freiburg level. The visitors looked increasingly shaky at the back as halftime approached.

Freiburg nearly stole the lead against the run of play a minute later. A long ball found Matanović, who laid it off for Scherhant, but the attacker could only find the outside of the side netting from close range - a let-off for Stuttgart.

There was one final moment of nervousness for the hosts just before the interval, as Nübel hesitated in possession and was forced to usher the ball out of play before a Freiburg challenge could arrive.

Stuttgart headed into the break firmly in control but without the goal their performance deserved, while Freiburg could count themselves fortunate to remain level thanks to resilience, last-ditch defending, and an inspired goalkeeper.

The second half started fiery with chances on both ends - but neither Stuttgart nor Freiburg could keep up the levels of intensity and pace shown in the opening 5 minutes of the second half.

Instead, the game turned into a much more reserved and laidback affair. It wasn't like the players didn't want to create chances, it was rather a case of a typical midfield battle.

That's why both Sebastian Hoeneß and Julian Schuster tried to make the right substitutions to impact the game in their favour: however, the subs kind of disrupted the rhythm of the game furhter, so that there wasn't much action between the 60th and 80th minute.

Führich and Mittelstädt made for some great combinations over the left-hand-side, but Stuttgart never really created the clear cut chances they needed to find the opening goal.

Freiburg were clearly content and ready to take the goalless draw, but Stuttgart had other ideas: it took them 89 minutes, but finally they got the breakthrough.

Undav was free to cross to Demirović, who was at the edge of the box. He took the ball as it came and his half-volley found a way past Atubolu into the net! 1-0 to the hosts.

In the dying minutes of the game, Freiburg finally tried to force a goal themselves, but Nübel was there to protect the clean sheet.

Final result: Stuttgart 1-0 Freiburg.