BVB Downs Host Stuttgart, Heads into International Break in First Place | OneFootball

With Konstantinos Karetsas back in the squad but not in the starting lineup, BVB dominated the opening half hour, which was marked by caution on both sides, with the two teams intent on containing each other. Maxi Beier's headed opportunity under pressure (4') was followed by a promising free kick from 19 meters out that was curled over the crossbar by Joey Veerman (29').

A defensive error immediately after handed VfB its first big chance, but Gregor Kobel's kick save denied Deniz Undav. Then, moments from halftime, an impressive Joane Gadou sprint thwarted a counterattack by the hosts, who had been sitting fairly deep and looking for transition moments. Gadou's determined intervention stopped Demirovic in his tracks. Overall, it was an evenly matched first half, with Borussia holding a slight edge on possession (55%).

Shortly after the break, BVB had a promising counterattacking opportunity of its own through Ethan Nwaneri, but unfortunately nothing came of it (48'). Two minutes later, following a glaring error in the buildup by VfB, Daniel Svensson overcooked his pass intended for Nwaneri. Then, another two minutes after that, Nwaneri put the ball in the net following a through ball by Felix Nmecha, but the play was called back for an obvious offside offence (52').

The Black & Yellow, who largely had the game under control and created several promising looks on attack, made a double substitution just after the hour mark, with Jobe Bellingham and Kosta Karetsas replacing Veerman and Nwaneri. In the 70th minute, teen phenom Karetsas took his team's tenth shot of the match — and its first on target. Shortly thereafter, Borussia's dominance finally paid off. Karetsas found Bellingham, who delivered an outstanding centering pass into the six-yard box, where the onrushing Beier found the net with a low first-time finish.

Kosta Karetsas subsequently could have made it 2-0 when Nmecha broke up a Stuttgart attack, carried the ball down the length of the field, and picked out his Greek teammte around the top of the box. Karetsas' shot whistled narrowly wide of the right post (73').

Stuttgart increased its urgency late in the game, pinning BVB back inside its own half. However, the Dortmund players did an outstanding job defending their narrow advantage throughout the remainder of the ninety minutes and beyond, with substitute Bensebaini blocking Pejcinovic’s shot for a very late corner (90’+1). 

The Bundesliga will be on hiatus until October 9. At that point, the Black & Yellow will kick off a stretch of nine matches in just 30 days with a home game against Werder Bremen.

VFB STUTTGART – Borussia Dortmund 0-1 (0-0 at half)

Bundesliga, Matchday 4

Bredlow – Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt – Vagnoman, Prömel (84' Nartey), Stiller, Führich (64' Leweling) – El Khannouss (84' Sauer), Undav (64' Pejcinovic) – DemirovicBench: Funk, Al-Dakhil, Hendriks, Karazor, Spalt

BVB: Kobel – Gadou, Anton, Schlotterbeck – Ryerson (82' Bensebaini), Veerman (62' Bellingham), Nmecha, Svensson – Nwaneri (62' Karetsas), Beier (82' Sabitzer) – Guirassy (75' Silva)Bench: Meyer, Reggiani, Chukwuemeka, InacioAbsent: Can (torn ACL), Konstantelias (torn ACL), Lerma (muscle injury), Mane (muscle injury)