Start-up failure in Duisburg sparks optimism
VfB Stuttgart II Struggles in Chaotic 3rd Division Debut, Yet Show Promise
VfB Stuttgart II kicked off their 2025/26 3rd Division campaign with a challenging match against MSV Duisburg. The newly assembled squad, still finding their footing, faced a 1:2 loss in a game marked by intensity and late goals.
Despite the setback, coach Nico Willig was satisfied with his team's performance. The squad managed to control the game at times, boasting over 60% possession throughout the match. One of the highlights was Dominik Nothnagel's equaliser at the 65th minute, following a corner from Nicolas Sessa.
The opening goal for MSV Duisburg came at the 51st minute, courtesy of Patrick Sussek. The winning goal was scored by Max Herwerth at the 74th minute, deflecting Sussek's shot past the goalkeeper. VfB Stuttgart II had better scoring opportunities, with shots from Mohamed Sankoh and Leny Meyer going just wide.
Unfortunately, the match was marred by an injury to Thomas Kastanaras, who suffered a severe knee injury before the start of the season and will be out for an extended period.
Looking ahead, VfB Stuttgart II will be hosting FC Ingolstadt 04 in their home opener on August 10, 7:30 PM, at the Mechatronik Arena. The new season is seen as a developmental step for the young players, with a focus on improving upon their 15th-place finish from the previous season.
As the team prepares for their next match, they will undoubtedly look to build upon the promising aspects of their performance against MSV Duisburg and work towards securing their first points of the season.
European-leagues football is a competitive domain where VfB Stuttgart II aims to make their mark, and their 3rd Division debut against MSV Duisburg showed promises despite the 1:2 loss. The squad, although struggling, displayed resilience, with dominating ball possession and near misses from players like Mohamed Sankoh and Leny Meyer.
