After a cagey first half, Sasa Kalajdzic gave Stuttgart the lead (67’), but the Eagles responded immediately through Filip Kostic (69’), who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside by the video assistant.
Jovic starts, duo sit out
Adi Hütter made three changes to his starting line-up following last Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen. Daichi Kamada and Tuta missed out due to injury so Luka Jovic and Evan Ndicka were recalled, while Stefan Ilsanker was handed his first start since Matchday 11. Sebastian Rode dropped to the bench.
Evenly matched first half
The first half was perhaps not as open and entertaining as would be expected between the third and fourth highest-scoring teams in the Bundesliga, with the two sides cancelling each other out. Amin Younes headed straight at Gregor Kobel from an early Kostic cross, but Stuttgart largely contained the Eagles’ attack without creating any notable opportunities themselves. The best chance of the half came shortly before the break, when Andre Silva’s low first-time volley from Kostic’s cross was blocked by Kobel.
Two goals in two minutes
The visitors made a lively start to the second period and Konstantinos Mavropanos should have done better with a free header from a corner in the 53rd minute. However, it was the Eagles who appeared to have broken the deadlock: a short throw-in from the right found its way over to Kostic on the left, and he drilled a low shot into the far corner. But after a considerable wait for the video assistant, the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside call in the build-up.
Eintracht kept plugging away and both Silva and Jovic had half-chances in quick succession, but they soon found themselves behind when Kalajdzic chested down Marc Oliver Kempf’s ball over the top and poked it past Kevin Trapp via a deflection off Martin Hinteregger. VfB’s lead lasted less than two minutes, though, as Kostic levelled the score with a similar strike to his disallowed effort. The Eagles then looked the more likely team to find a winner and increased the pressure in the closing stages. Jovic’s firm header from Kostic’s corner was tipped over by the bar by Kobel, before the Stuttgart goalkeeper made another smart stop to deny Silva in the final action of the match.
Summary: Fine margins
Stuttgart will probably be the more pleased of the two sides, given that Eintracht had the majority of the chances. Had Kostic’s first goal stood, it may have been a different story, but Adi Hütter will likely not be too disappointed with gaining a point against one of the best away teams in the Bundesliga – a result which maintains the Eagles’ unbeaten record at home this season.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Ilsanker, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Durm (Toure 72’, Chandler 82’), Sow, Hasebe (Rode 72’), Kostic – Younes (Zuber 86’) – Silva, Jovic
Goals
0-1 Kalajdzic (67’)
1-1 Kostic (69’)
