In the opening match of the 7th round of the Bundesliga, VfB Stuttgart suffered a narrow defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach, losing 2:3.
The home side took the lead early in the 5th minute. Ermedin Demirovic scored, following a second-ball header laid in by Stuttgart attacker Dzenan Pejcinovic. Demirovic took the opportunity in the right half-space, shooting directly with a volley from about 22 meters out. Although Gladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas attempted to parry the ball with his hand, he couldn’t prevent it from finding the top right corner.
The visiting team leveled the score in the 38th minute. Wael Mohya, the Gladbach midfielder, drove powerfully down the left side and delivered a cross to Lukas Ullrich. Maximilian Mittelstädt, the Stuttgart defender, failed to adequately clear the cross, which fell into the penalty area where Gladbach’s Zento Uno was waiting. Scally then finished it low and hard into the bottom right corner with a backheel flick.
Gladbach regained the lead in the 51st minute through Shuto Machino. Mohya successfully pushed past both Lorenz Assignon and Leo Sauer along the left sideline before supplying Machino inside the penalty box, who smashed the ball forcefully into the top left corner.
Mohya doubled the Gladbach lead in the 66th minute. Undefended on the left side in the Stuttgart penalty area, Mohya shot the ball. Stuttgart goalkeeper Dennis Seimen missed the low shot, and Ramon Hendriks managed to clear it off the line. Scally then peppered the post three times against Mittelstädt and Seimen before somehow getting the ball lifted into the center past the keeper. Mohya then pushed the ball over the line from close range.
Demirovic secured the consolation goal for Stuttgart in the 83rd minute. Stuttgart midfielder Jamie Leweling managed to create space against Ullrich and put in a cross toward the left post. Demirovic challenged the Gladbach defenders Yukhym Konoplia and Daiki Hashioka, winning the aerial duel and heading the ball into the right corner.
The defeat sees VfB Stuttgart drop to 14th place for now, while Gladbach remains in 18th position.
