Stuttgart held by resilient Hoffenheim | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart left kicking themselves as Hoffenheim snatch late equaliser

VfB Stuttgart dominated possession but were held to a 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim, with Nick Woltemade and Gift Orban scoring for their respective sides in an enthralling Bundesliga clash at PreZero Arena.

The stage was set for an intriguing Baden-Württemberg derby as VfB Stuttgart visited Hoffenheim at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim. Both teams entered the match with mixed recent form, as Stuttgart were looking to bounce back from their recent home defeat to Wolfsburg, while Hoffenheim aimed to build on their impressive away win at Werder Bremen.

Hoffenheim fans created a vibrant atmosphere in the Baden-Württemberg derby. (IMAGO/Thomas Voelker)

Stuttgart start strong

Stuttgart wasted no time in asserting their dominance, taking control of possession from the opening whistle. Their early pressure paid off in the ninth minute when Woltemade broke the deadlock. A clever dummy by Deniz Undav from Maximilian Mittelstädt's pass left Woltemade with space in the box, and the young forward made no mistake, slotting the ball past Luca Philipp to give Stuttgart a 1-0 lead.

Nick Woltemade celebrates his opening goal with unbridled joy. (IMAGO/Julia Rahn)

Missed opportunities

The goal seemed to galvanise Stuttgart, who continued to dominate proceedings throughout the first half. Chris Führich was a constant threat down the flanks, while Angelo Stiller pulled the strings in midfield. However, despite their superiority, Stuttgart struggled to extend their lead. In the 30th minute, they came agonisingly close when Atakan Karazor's effort struck the post, followed by a goalmouth scramble that somehow didn't result in a second goal. Hoffenheim, meanwhile, struggled to create any meaningful chances, with their first shot on target not coming until first-half stoppage time.

Luca Philipp made a series of saves to keep Hoffenheim in the game. (IMAGO/Grant Hubbs)

Philipp stands tall

As the second half began, Stuttgart continued to press for a second goal, but they found Philipp in inspired form. The Hoffenheim goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves, denying Angelo Stiller, Woltemade, and Undav in quick succession to keep his team in the game. Andrej Kramarić tried to spark Hoffenheim's attack, but the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances against Stuttgart's resolute defence.

Gift Orban celebrates his crucial equaliser, silencing the away fans. (IMAGO/Heiko Becker)

Orban's equaliser

Just as it seemed Stuttgart's wastefulness might go unpunished, Hoffenheim found an equaliser against the run of play. In the 74th minute, a poor clearance from Jeff Chabot fell to Kramarić, who showed great awareness to set up Orban. The Nigerian striker skilfully evaded his marker and curled a superb shot beyond Alexander Nübel to level the scores at 1-1. The goal breathed new life into the match, with both teams pushing for a winner in the closing stages.

Late drama

Both managers made changes in an attempt to find a winner. Jacob Bruun Larsen replaced Leweling for Stuttgart, while Hoffenheim brought on Haris Tabaković for Marius Bülter. The final minutes saw end-to-end action as both sides sought a decisive goal. Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirović, brought on as a late substitute, added fresh impetus to their attack, while Tabaković came close with a header that just cleared the crossbar in stoppage time. Despite the late flurry of activity, neither team could find a winner, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Player of the Match: Luca Philipp

While several players put in noteworthy performances, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Luca Philipp stood out as the game's most influential figure. His series of crucial saves, particularly in the second half, kept Hoffenheim in the match when Stuttgart threatened to run away with it. Philipp's composure under pressure and quick reflexes denied clear-cut chances from Stiller, Woltemade, and Undav, ultimately allowing his team to salvage a valuable point.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Hoffenheim 0.96 - Stuttgart 1.84Fastest player: Finn Jeltsch, 33.4 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-0 by Woltemade, 19.44 percentMost pressed player: Woltemade, 30 times under pressurePass efficiency: Stiller, +8.78

Fantasy Heroes: Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart, 378 Points), Nick Woltemade (VfB Stuttgart, 270 Points), Luca Philipp (Hoffenheim, 255 Points)

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