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Double assist Pascal Stenzel celebrates goalscorer Maximilian Mittelstädt
Photo: Jan Huebner / IMAGO
VfB Stuttgart is still heading towards the Champions League. In the 3-1 (2-0) win against Mainz 05, Maximilian Mittelstädt (45th + 2 minutes), Jamie Leweling (45th + 5th) and Deniz Undav (73rd) scored for the Swabians, who are now after a short period of weakness at the start of the year won three games in a row in the Bundesliga. Ludovic Ajorque (76th) only scored the consolation goal.
However, VfB did not initially play against the penultimate team from Mainz: Deniz Undav, who was preferred in the center of the attack over the returnee Serhou Guirassy, had the first opportunity to finish after just a few moments (1st). But it only became really dangerous when Mainz' attacker Jonathan Burkardt gave the ball into the middle, where the advanced Anthony Caci hit the outside post from a tight angle (2nd).
This turbulent initial phase was followed by a long break. In Stuttgart, too, the organized fan scene protested by throwing tennis balls against the investor investment decided by the German Football League. The ball was idle for more than ten minutes and referee Deniz Aytekin ordered the teams to the sidelines. The game didn't come close to being abandoned, but 15 minutes of added time were added to the first half.
Lots of action in stoppage time in the first half
In this, VfB then struck: Chris Führich had previously missed the opportunity to cross to Undav, who was running along with him, in front of the goal (43'), and a little later Mittelstädt took advantage of a moment of inattention in the Mainz back four when Pascal Stenzel's cross appeared harmless let the ball slip through to the far post (45.+2). With the next attack, Leweling increased, again after work from Stenzel. He was almost allowed to celebrate a hat-trick of assists, but this time Robin Zentner parried in the Mainz goal against Leweling, who once again appeared dangerously in front of the goal (45th + 8th).
The game was still decided, however, and Undav scored VfB's third goal in the second half when, in a running duel, he tripped the newly substituted Tom Krauss and carefully slotted it in (73'). Ajorque's header after a free kick from half field changed nothing about the outcome of the game.
In third place, the Stuttgart team is already six points ahead of RB Leipzig, which, in fifth place, occupies first place outside the Champions League ranks. Mainz are already nine points short of non-relegation place 15, which Union currently holds.
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