Goalless draw against Hoffenheim

Match summary:

Following last Sunday’s match at SV Werder Bremen, head coach Sebastian Hoeneß made two changes to his side for VfB’s 49^th and final competitive game of 2025. Maximilian Mittelstädt and Tiago Tomás started in place of Ramon Hendriks (on the bench) and Bilal El Khannouss (at the Africa Cup of Nations). 

First chance for Hoffenheim

The 59,000 fans at the MHP Arena – with the home sections completely sold out – saw Finn Jeltsch produce a last-ditch block on Hoffenheim attacker Tim Lemperle’s shot early on (9’). Stuttgart had to get to grips with the visitors’ high press, but increasingly managed to play their way through it.

Jamie Leweling had the first sight of goal for the boys from Cannstatt, his long-distance shot fizzing just wide of the left-hand post (23’). The clearest chance of the half arrived just before the interval when a Nikolas Nartey header teed up Tomás, who was thwarted at close range by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (42’). With both teams focused in their work off the ball, the 0-0 scoreline at half-time was a fair reflection of the action. 

Deniz Undav header disallowed

Jeltsch was taken off at the break, with Ameen Al-Dakhil coming on in his place. VfB increased the tempo but Hoffenheim continued to carry a threat in the final third and Alexander Nübel had to be alert to keep out a shot from Albian Hajdari (59’). 

As the match entered the closing stages, Mittelstädt very nearly broke the deadlock, only for Baumann to deny his first-time effort (69’). Deniz Undav headed just wide of the near post from a tight angle a short while later (74’) as the VfB fans increased the volume to cheer on their team, who were now very much on top. 

The next opportunity arose for substitute Chris Führich, who cut in from the left but couldn’t quite get a shot away (82’). Undav had the ball in the net in stoppage time (90’+2) but his header was disallowed for offside, meaning VfB had to settle for a point despite an improved second-half showing. The result means Hoeneß’s side remain in the top third of the table on 26 points, one behind Hoffenheim.