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At eye level: Bochum and Stuttgart parted ways
Photo:
Bernd Thissen / dpa
In the first few weeks of the current Bundesliga season, VfL Bochum and VfB Stuttgart had a hard time.
In the direct encounter at 0-0, it became clear why: The teams were seldom compelling, especially in the second round a wild game developed in which Stuttgart always left room for counterattacks.
From the beginning it was a very tough game in the Ruhrstadion, there were many borderline duels. In the first round alone, referee Christian Dingert showed four yellow cards. The Bochumers made it into dangerous situations again and again, but then too often made the wrong decision. For example, VfL striker Sebastian Polter missed a promising counter-attack because he was outnumbered in front of the penalty area prematurely (34th minute).
In the second half the game became more open. Bochum's Christopher Antwi-Adjej failed on the one hand to keeper Florian Müller (48th). On the other hand, a goal from VfB defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was withdrawn due to an offside situation (55th). However, after minutes that were dangerous for both lines of defense, the game flattened out, and the teams didn't seem to want to take any more risks in order to secure at least one point.
One of the few dangerous scenes recorded Bochum's Anthony Losilla, who shot from the center line after winning the ball in midfield, but just missed the goal (72nd).
Like Polter in the first half, Losilla subsequently also missed a promising counter-attack, although the Bochumers were outnumbered in a switchover near the penalty area.
The shot slipped over Losilla's foot and clearly missed, emblematic of this game.
hba
