Strong opening
A patchwork VfB Stuttgart team, deprived of several first-team regulars, began boldly in Leipzig and created their first opportunity of the game after nine minutes. Wataru Endo won possession in midfield and played the ball to Thomas Kastanaras, included in the starting XI for the first time, but his shot was tipped around the post by Janis Blaswich.
The home side began to settle after around 20 minutes and took the lead with their first effort on goal via Dominik Szoboszlai's direct free-kick (25'). Leipzig were the dominant team thereafter and looked dangerous through David Raum's crosses and Andre Silva's aerial ability.
Führich's goal not enough
Bruno Labbadia's charges almost equalised within seconds of the restart. Luca Pfeiffer played the ball through to Nikolas Nartey, who only narrowly missed the target (46'). However, it was Leipzig who scored next, with Szoboszlai finding the net out of the blue with a well-hit strike into the far corner from the edge of the area.
VfB refused to give in, though, and after Pfeiffer missed an opportunity to pull a goal back (57'), Chris Führich reduced the deficit from the penalty spot following a handball (68'). Labbadia's side subsequently threw everything forward in search of an equaliser but the ball simply would not go in again.
Goals:
25th minute (1-0): Szoboszlai takes a free-kick from 30 metres out and his swerving shot flies into the bottom left-hand corner.
49th minute (2-0): Szoboszlai's half-volley from the edge of the area arrows into the bottom corner.
68th minute (2-1): Führich converts from the spot, tucking the ball into the bottom left corner.
Reaction
VfB head coach Bruno Labbadia: "The boys did their jobs exceptionally well today and put in a top-class performance. That makes it all the more frustrating to be left empty-handed after a game like that, especially when you consider that we covered more ground, won more corners and had the same number of shots as Leipzig. We were able to do a lot of the things we set out to do. You have to say that the fact we've earned just two points from our last three games isn't a true reflection of our performances."
Chris Führich: "Obviously we're disappointed with the result because we had enough chances to get something from the game. We knew it would be difficult, but we played well and can be proud of ourselves."
