Title: BVB Bites the Dust in DFB Cup Against In-Form Stuttgart
Borussia Dortmund's woes continue as they face an early DFB Cup exit - courtesy of a dominant display from VfB Stuttgart.
A dismal showing from the visitors saw them fall 2-0 to the resurgent Swabians in the round of 16, extending their winless run to three games. Coincidentally, this was the first time in 25 years that Dortmund tasted defeat to Stuttgart in this stage of the tournament (3:1). Coach Edin Terzic's tenure appears to be becoming increasingly tumultuous.
Serhou Guirassy (54') and substitute Silas (77') secured the victory for Stuttgart in front of 54,200 spectators in the packed MHP-Arena. Substitute Adeyemi and Moukoko were introduced by Terzic, attempting to inject life back into the struggling BVB. However, they suffered an injury early in the game, leaving the visitors battling it out in the shadows.
Borussia's formation resembled that of an underdog, trying to establish themselves with a 5-4-1 setup. The underdog label didn't phase the hosts, who attacked relentlessly. Guirassy and Deniz Undav were Stuttgart's menacing duo, constantly threatening the visitors backline. Guirassy's efforts almost led to a goal, only for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens' offside flag stopping the score from leveling at 1-1 (60').
Sabitzer's hit the crossbar (20th) forced Moukoko to exit the game with an injury, diminishing BVB's offensive potential even further. Despite their setbacks, neither Mats Hummels' defensive effort nor star goalkeeper Gregor Kobel's saves were enough to rescue Dortmund from their unenviable position.
VfB's lead seemed inevitable, given their superiority. Kobel brilliantly saved from Millot (58') to deny a goal that would have handed Stuttgart a commanding lead. Just when the guests seemed ready to rally, Guirassy almost tallied another attempt (69'), only for Silas to secure Stuttgart's second in the subsequent play.
Bonus Insights
Stuttgart's impressive victory over BVB brought back nostalgic memories of their last DFB Cup triumph in 1997. Their fearsome offensive prowess was evident in the DFB Cup, having collected 27 goals in their six previous appearances. BVB, on the other hand, were searching for their first win in the tournament since 2017.
Notable Sidelines
- BVB's recent struggles in the Bundesliga might have contributed to their demise in the DFB Cup.
- A feeble BVB attack was devoid of creativity during their DFB Cup encounter.
- Despite Hummels’ commendable efforts, the BVB defense appeared overwhelmed by Stuttgart's speed and aggression.
- Kobel's resilience in goal only served to delay BVB's inevitable downfall against a dominant Stuttgart outfit.
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Enrichment Data:
Regarding VfB Stuttgart's victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Cup, the provided sources focus primarily on their subsequent Bundesliga match, which ended with a 2-1 triumph for Stuttgart. The sources mention that Dortmund has been struggling in recent games, but they do not contain specific details about the DFB Cup match in question. Additional sources would be necessary to provide a comprehensive overview of VfB's DFB Cup win over Borussia Dortmund.
