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Stuttgart players celebrate the opening goal in Hamburg

Photo: AXEL HEIMKEN / AFP

VfB Stuttgart will continue to play in the Bundesliga in the 2023/2024 season, with Hamburger SV in a class below. In the relegation second leg in front of 57,000 spectators at the Volksparkstadion, HSV lost 1-3 (1-0) to VfB. The Swabians had won the first leg 3-0 (1-0).

After the 0-3 defeat in the first leg, HSV needed goals in the second leg. Accordingly, Tim Walter's team started offensively. Jean-Luc Dompé forced VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller to make a first save with a fluttering free-kick (4th minute). Two minutes later, he set up Hamburg's opening goal with a great solo on the left wing. His pass was found by Sonny Kittel, who chased the ball from a half-right position next to the left post – 1:0 (6th minute).

Hamburg half-time lead

Ten minutes later, the good mood seemed to suffer a damper, but Serhou Guirassy's sensational heel goal was preceded by an offside position (16th). Stuttgart were now better in the game, but failed again and again in their attacking efforts due to HSV defensive boss Sebastian Schonlau, who was outstanding in this phase. Offensively, the second division club rarely managed to set up top scorer Robert Glatzel, who hardly made an appearance in the first half except for a shot just past the right (40th). With the 1:0 it went into the break.

HSV needed two more goals for extra time – and conceded the cold shower early. Guirassy was sent half-left and played into the middle at the right moment to Enzo Millot, who overcame Daniel Heuer Fernandes in the HSV goal to make it 1-1 (48th). The hosts now had to score three more goals to force 30 extra minutes.

After just over an hour, all the math came to an end: Heuer Fernandes, who was still outstanding in the first leg, missed the ball and allowed Millot to make it 1-2 (64th). Stuttgart's jubilation in front of the Hamburg corner caused unrest, a pack formation and four yellow cards. In the second half alone, referee Bastian Dankert handed out ten warnings.

Walter made another offensive change, but Glatzel (74') narrowly missed the equaliser and the possible start signal for a turbulent final quarter of an hour, as did Kittel (75'). In the second half, as in the first leg, Stuttgart acted like the team higher in the league and deservedly prevailed over two games. The final point for VfB was scored by Silas with a 3-1 win (90+6).

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