VfB Stuttgart, threatened with relegation, has continued its descent in the Bundesliga and has now been waiting for a win for six games.

Although the Swabians ended their goal drought on Saturday in the 2:3 (1:1) against Eintracht Frankfurt after five attempts without their own goal, the longed-for liberation of the penultimate failed to materialize.

The Hessians, on the other hand, achieved their first win in the new calendar year and, in ninth place, remain close to the European Cup ranks.

In the Stuttgart stadium, VfB professionals Waldemar Anton (42') and Sasa Kalajdzic (70') equalized the goals of Evan Ndicka (7') and Ajdin Hrustic (47') before substitute Hrustic struck again (77').

The home side relied on a back four for the first time since matchday six and they had a lot to do right from the start.

After the six-day training camp in Marbella, Spain, VfB had big plans, but Frankfurt started more dangerously.

The Hessians earned four corner balls in the early stages and one of them also led to success.

The moved up Ndicka steered the ball over the line and shocked the home side.

Pellegrino Matarazzo's match plan was gone and so was the confidence that the coach had radiated before the game.

Eintracht, weakened on the offensive, where Daichi Kamada (torn muscle) and Filip Kostic (fever) had to be replaced, played the early goal into the cards.

In addition, Orel Mangala failed in the first good attack of the hosts by Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (16th), Kalajdzic's header missed his target (28th) and Philipp Förster also missed (32nd).

Silas Katompa Mvumpa, one of the central figures of VfB, twirled on the right flank.

However, after recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture and surviving the corona infection, he lacked the clout in his first starting eleven since March 20, 2021. In addition, Matarazzo's team repeatedly got themselves into trouble.

And because something rarely worked out of the game, a set piece also led VfB to the goal.

Chris Führich found Anton with his free kick.

The second half started with a setback for Stuttgart.

Substitute Hrustic brought Eintracht back in front with a direct acceptance.

VfB didn't let themselves be unsettled and equalized again after a header from Kalajdzic.

However, Eintracht was able to strike back again.

Hrustic was lucky on his finish when Konstantinos Mavropanos deflected the ball unstoppably.

VfB never recovered from that.