VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League: Lesson against Atalanta Bergamo

It’s been a little over two weeks since VfB Stuttgart’s short-term priorities were set. In Turin, the day before the guest appearance in the Champions League, the internal discussion was about the opponent series Juventus-Kiel-Kaiserslautern-Leverkusen. It was a colorfully mixed quartet from three different competitions, combined with the realization that two mandatory victories were urgently needed – and that as many points as possible should be collected in Turin and Leverkusen. It was supposed to be a kind of serious rallying of a tired team that wanted to set the direction of their season until the beginning of November – and did so.

You have to congratulate VfB: a win in Turin, a home win against Kiel, a cup progression against Kaiserslautern and a draw against Leverkusen later, the Stuttgart team are in a very reasonable position overall – even if it became clear on Wednesday evening what can happen if you didn’t pull himself together decisively enough.

Back then, people in Turin didn’t even think about the home game against Atalanta Bergamo in the Champions League. The challenges (even existential in the DFB Cup) were too great to prepare in detail for the clever Gian Piero Gasperini’s team. The result could be seen on the lawn. In order to decipher and then defeat Atalanta Bergamo, you would probably need time for a few weeks of video study and a fully fit and in-form squad. Unfortunately, VfB Stuttgart doesn’t have either at the moment, which could be the explanation for this clear 0-2 loss in their own stadium.

VfB received a kind of lesson from one of the currently strongest teams in Europe. “We have to show our opponents respect for this performance here,” said coach Sebastian Hoeneß after the game: “They show what makes them special, week after week. They defend very disciplined, are very experienced, very sophisticated in their style of play and don’t need much.”

As table 27th. VfB still has hope of progressing

Perfectly coordinated, the incredibly annoying one-on-one defenders from Bergamo faced VfB from the first minute. The usual combination security on the offensive, the overview with which Angelo Stiller and Atakan Karazor usually direct the game from the midfield, the crosses from Maximilian Mittelstädt and Josha Vagnoman – all of this had to happen under high pressure because there was always an opponent who could The Stuttgart team was already on their feet while the ball was still on its way to them. This is a grueling tactic that Leverkusen still has trouble dreaming about after losing the Europa League final 3-0 last summer. Anyone who plays against this Bergamo must assume that mistakes will creep into their own game at some point.

Before the score was 0-1, it was Charles De Ketelaere in the 51st minute who evaded Mittelstädt with a dribble and passed it to Ademola Lookman in the middle. Before the score was 0-2, it was a mistake by Anthony Rouault, who was the last man to lose the ball to Nicoló Zaniolo, who then decided the game in the 88th minute. Offensively, the hard-working but noticeably tired VfB only came dangerously in front of the goal twice; It was also clear to see why Atalanta, along with Inter Milan, is only one of two teams in the competition that has not yet conceded a goal.

So we didn’t learn much new about VfB Stuttgart. Just as Hoeneß’ team has proven in recent weeks what they are capable of at their limits, the differences to Europe’s best – of which VfB is not yet one – have now been noticed. However, as 27th in the table and looking at the rest of the program, there are still very legitimate hopes of progressing, the direction we have chosen for the season is still correct. And the prospect of a much-needed break also beckons: Stuttgart have to pull themselves together once more, on Sunday against Frankfurt, then there will be at least a bit of peace – but not for the players who are traveling to their national teams. And these are – the price of success – a few more than a club coach would like.