Stuttgart's response shows Hoeneß still has players' trust - but consistency is the real test | OneFootball

The Freiburg collapse last weekend had the feel of a turning point. Not in the dramatic sense of a crisis, but in the subtler, more worrying way a team begins to lose its identity.

Stuttgart looked short on ideas, short on conviction, and far too willing to protect what little they had rather than impose themselves. The language from Sebastian Hoeneß and captain Atakan Karazor afterwards was telling: too passive, too hesitant, not enough with the ball.

And under the lights on Friday evening against St. Pauli, they responded convincingly.

Against a St. Pauli side unusually burdened with expectation as a result of a spectacular start to the season, Stuttgart rediscovered something of the verve that defined their rise under Hoeneß, with a comfortable 2-0 victory to make you wonder what the nerves were for in the first place.

Fittingly, it was Ermedin Demirovic, wearing the armband for the first time, who led from the front.

He netted for the second time this season just before half-time, carrying shades of a striker determined to take responsibility and stake his claim to become Hoeneß's main man following the departure of Nick Woltemade.

He twisted and turned inside the box before beautifully dinking the ball over the onrushing Nikola Vasilj with the composure that Stuttgart have been lacking in the final third all season.

His role in Bilal El Khannouss’s superbly worked second only underlined his influence. A captain’s performance, and perhaps a symbolic handover of leadership at a moment when VfB need direction most.

El Khannouss’s finish, his first in the Bundesliga, was Stuttgart at their best: quick interplay, intelligent movement, and the confidence to trust the pass was coming. It was precisely the kind of elegant move supporters feared was disappearing from this team.

Of course, there were familiar jitters. Stiller’s missed penalty, his hesitation when clean through, and a brief Pauli surge reminded everyone how quickly confidence can waver.

But unlike in Freiburg, Stuttgart didn’t fold. Alexander Nübel’s big save to deny Oladapo Afolayan helped to keep the two-goal lead, and the defensive unit looked steadier under pressure.

The bigger challenge lies in sustaining the form. Friday’s victory was only Stuttgart’s 10th from 23 league games in 2025 - hardly the return of a side aiming for the top four.

With Celta Vigo visiting on Thursday in the Europa League, we will learn quickly whether this display was a one-off reaction or the beginning of a real revival after a poor start to the campaign.

For now, Hoeneß and his side can give themselves a pat on the back. They responded perfectly with a comfortable win, and looked like a side performing much closer to their full potential.

After a week where doubt began to creep in, VfB needed a performance to reassure both themselves and supporters, and one was most certainly delivered.