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Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy celebrates after his goal to make it 1-0

Photo: Swen Pförtner/dpa

Last season, VfB Stuttgart was almost relegated, but now participation in the Champions League is becoming increasingly likely.

The Swabians won the top game of the 24th matchday of the Bundesliga at VfL Wolfsburg 3:2 (1:0) and are still in third place with 50 points.

Pursuer Borussia Dortmund has 44 points, RB Leipzig is in fifth place with 43 points.

Wolfsburg continues a disappointing season and is in 13th place with 25 points.

Stuttgart was the more active team right from the start and, as so often this season, played with a confident pass and was dominant.

The striker Deniz Undav, who had recovered from an injury, initially remained on the bench, and even without him VfB took the lead.

Stuttgart combined forward in a remarkable way, Maximilian Mittelstädt hit a cross from the left into the penalty area, where Serhou Guirassy was of course lurking.

The top scorer rose high and scored his 19th goal of the season with a header (14th minute).

Wolfsburg, still without a win in all league games this calendar year, then did more for the game, but acted too discouraged to seriously endanger VfB.

VfL's only chance of the first half was missed by Joakim Mæhle, who picked up a short back pass from Waldemar Anton but couldn't get the ball into the goal from a tight angle (40').

Niko Kovač's team proved at the start of the second half that Wolfsburg can do a lot more than they recently showed.

The Wolfsburg team passed pass after pass, Lovro Majer fed Mæhle, who immediately finished and equalized (50th).

Immediately afterwards, the focus was once again on Mæhle.

After the connection, VfB quickly moved forward.

Enzo Millot went into the penalty area with great speed and was then tackled to the ground by Mæhle.

Guirassy sank the penalty (54').

Shortly afterwards, Josha Vagnoman made it 3-1, but the goal didn't count because it was offside (56').

Afterwards, Wolfsburg was no longer able to build on the strong initial phase of the second half, while VfB continued to play their combination game, which was worth seeing.

After an attack over several stations, Vagnoman got the ball and flicked it into the left corner (77th).

Lukas Nmecha scored from a free kick out of the crowd to make it 2-3 (83'), but VfL couldn't manage any more.

Wolfsburg is still waiting for its first win in the Bundesliga since December 16th.

kjo