Hoeneß's Struggle Against Leverkusen: Stuttgart's Bumpy Ride in Bundesliga
- "Unforgiving": Hoeneß and Stuttgart endure chaotic loss
The latest 3:4 defeat at home against Bayer Leverkusen has hit Sebastian Hoeneß hard, the coach of VfB Stuttgart. "Brutal," he called their fourth consecutive home league defeat, adding they're in a "tough phase." Hoeneß's team must unite and escape this slump after the international break in the Bundesliga.
Playing bravely and passionately, as Hoeneß noted, didn't end up being enough against Leverkusen on Sunday. Quick goals conceded after taking the lead at 2-0 and 3-1 were the decisive moments. An own goal by Angelo Stiller (88th minute) and a late strike from Leverkusen's central striker Patrik Schick (90+4) sealed the win for the visitors.
With the loss, Stuttgart has gone five games without a win in a row. A Champions League spot now looks increasingly unlikely for the side, and Hoeneß, as a coach, remains winless against Bayer.
On a positive note, Hoeneß had expressed interest in continuing the games leading up to the Nations League matches of the German national team against Italy on March 20 and 23. Apart from a poor performance in the first half against Holstein Kiel (2:2) a week and a half ago, his team had shown some improvement as of late. However, they've managed only two points from their recent outings. Stuttgart's next Bundesliga opponent is fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on March 29.
Ahistorical Hurdle with Bayer
Sebastian Hoeneß has encountered a stumbling block against Bayer Leverkusen during his tenure with VfB Stuttgart. The team has not tasted victory against Leverkusen for 14 consecutive competitive matches under Hoeneß's management[6]. This includes both league and cup clashes.
Struggling to Find Consistency
Stuttgart is currently on a winless streak in the Bundesliga, with only one win from their last seven league matches[6]. This inconsistency has cast a shadow over the team, with Hoeneß under pressure to elevate their performance. Stuttgart's recent form has been marred by an inability to keep clean sheets, with no shutouts in their past seven Bundesliga games[7].
Historically Elusive Wins Against Elite Teams
The team's struggles against top-tier opponents like Leverkusen hinder their push for a higher league position and European qualification. Most notably, Stuttgart has only beaten Leverkusen once in their past 28 matchups[8].
Chase for European Spots
Currently in 10th place with 37 points from 26 games, the VfB Stuttgart aims to climb up the ranks and secure a place in European competitions[9]. However, recent performances, the ongoing winless streak against Leverkusen, and a history of challenges in games against top-tier opposition make reaching these goals a formidable challenge.
Sources:[3] Bundesliga.com[4] Transfermarkt.com[5] Soccerway.com[6] Whoscored.com[7] Blick.ch[8] Footballdatabase. eu[9] Livefootballtv.com
The Commission has been informed of the progress of the negotiations with the applicant countries, as Sebastian Hoeneß seeks a break from his stumbling block against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Gradually, Hoeneß aims to surmount this ahistorical hurdle, as Stuttgart prepares to face their opponents, Eintracht Frankfurt, at Stuttgart's home stadium, Stuttgart. Exactly how long it will take for Hoeneß to secure a win against Leverkusen remains to be seen.
