In an entertaining affair at the Allianz Arena Saša Kalajdžić rescued a point for VfB Stuttgart in a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich, meaning the great escape will be decided on the final day against top-four hopefuls FC Koln.
Stuttgart have one solitary win in the last 19 H2Hs, coming when ‘Die Bayern’ were already crowned Champions in 2017/18. Rumours circled that the Bayern players took off to Ibiza following a 3-1 defeat to Mainz last time out, and ‘Die Roten’ were hoping to capitalise on their hangover.
Knowing defeat would consign them to a bottom-three finish, an open affair ensued with the away side somewhat playing into Bayern’s hands. A high defensive line was breached early as Omar Marmoush sprung an offside trap down the right. His cut back found 19-year-old Tiago Tomás who struck high to Manuel Neuer’s right for his fourth Bundesliga goal. With 93 goals so far this campaign, everyone knew Bayern would come on strong. Two Thomas Müller chances sandwiched a Leon Goretzka miscue from six-yards out, before Serge Gnabry cut in from the right to force the issue via an unfortunate Konstantinos Mavropanos diversion to send the home crowd wild on ‘party night’. Record 11-time Meisterschale winner Müller then celebrated his new contract with a goal as he swivelled smartly before poking beyond his namesake Florian Müller.
Pellegrino Matarazzo clearly gave his side the ultimatum at HT and the response was almost immediate. His target man Kalajdžić, injured for most of the season, was on hand to nod home in the 51st minute as he latched onto a Borna Sosa cross from the left. Still in celebration mode, moments later, Kalajdžić was played through one-on-one with only Manuel Neuer to beat. However, it was easier said than done with the Austrian spurning his effort into the keeper’s grateful arms. Robert Lewandowski should have won it late, bringing down a Kingsley Coman cross and unleashing a strike which was miraculously diverted onto the crossbar by a heroic F. Müller leg.
In the final minute of stoppage time Coman let his frustration get the better of him and saw red when he lashed out at Mavropanos. Stuttgart know nothing short of a win on the final day will be good enough to avoid the relegation play-off. ‘Die Roten’ are looking to avoid a change of division for the fifth time in seven years and will be hopeful Hertha Berlin will slip up when hosting Borussia Dortmund.
