Stuttgart consolidated their challenge for a return to the Champions League with this convincing 4-0 defeat of Hamburg at the MHP Arena.
Once Sebastian Hoeness’ side had gone ahead, after twenty minutes, it always seemed likely they would secure the victory against moderate opposition.
Top talent Angelo Stiller began the scoring with a nice left foot finish from a right wing cross and within another ten minutes Fuhrich had added a second.
Although it was somewhat ironic that HSV did have the first chance, when Fabio Balde badly miscued when through on goal.
Unfortunately the away team did sometimes contribute to their own downfall with African defenders Omari (Comoros), Elfadli (Libya), and Nigerian Torunarigha looking shaky under pressure.
So in a first period that they controlled, the home side delivered two decisive finishes leaving the sellout 60,000 crowd well satisfied as they went for a beer.
After the break, as HSV tried to get playmaker, Arsenal loanee, Fabio Vieira on the ball they still struggled and it was only very late on that they gave home goalie Nubel some work.
Otherwise it was more of the same, with leading goalgetter Deniz Undav now featuring.
And it was only a very minor consolation that the visitors managed to stop him from scoring.
Though that was mostly down to his own doing, especially after he blazed a penalty over the bar on 82 minutes.
But Stuttgart didn’t need Undav’s goals this time since Mittelstadt, via a deflection, and Moroccan sub El Khannouss, also after an intervention, completed an emphatic victory.
Hoeness’ team with the talented Stiller and the powerful-looking Leweling, and even with a misfiring Undav look destined for the UCL next season and perhaps also a retention of their 2025 German Cup title.
While, judging by this contest, HSV were well off the pace and might have to be aware of those below them edging them closer to the Bundesliga danger zone.
Report from Stuttgart – John Bethell
