Football is a game full of surprises, and so is the football league of any country. Let’s take an example of Germany’s top division, the Bundesliga. VFB Stuttgart is one of the biggest clubs in German football. They have been the German champions for five seasons, but in recent seasons they have been a mid-table team. Stuttgart even faced relegation twice in four years recently but have now cemented their place in the Bundesliga.
Last season, the team battled in the relegation playoffs. They managed to keep their top-division status. Things have started on a positive note in 2023–24. Stuttgart are sitting second in the league table and above Bayern Munich. They are looking like a confident side, and here is a look at some of the stats from the current season that show how Stuttgart have progressed.
Humiliating opposition defence
Stuttgart started the 2023-24 season with a win and then lost their second match 5-1 to RB Leipzig. This was followed by five consecutive wins and the team is sitting second heading into the eighth game week.
Sebastian Hoeneß’s team averages more than three goals per match and has a high xG of 2.01. Averaging 14.57 shots per match, Stuttgart players manage to hit the target 48% of the time.
Last season’s on-loan signing, Sehrou Guirassy, signed a permanent deal with the German club. This is probably one of the best transfers of the season. The striker has netted 13 goals and is leading the race for the Golden Boot ahead of Harry Kane and Victor Boniface. He has scored three-fifths of the goals for Stuttgart.
Creative zones
VfB Stuttgart players are able to hold the ball. They average a 54.7 possession rate per match in the current season. This high possession rate allows them to rotate the ball more easily. The team averages 535.86 passes per match and has a high accuracy rate of 87.1%.
The first visual above shows the shot assist map, and the second one shows the ball progression pass map. It can be observed that the ball progression took place from both flanks, but the left side has been more productive as most of the passes into the box have been delivered from that particular side.
Chris Fuhrich has been the creative force down the left flank, and right-back Pascal Stenzel has taken the command from the right. Fuhrich has five assists to his name, and Stenzel has three. These two players find some great crossing positions, and their creative mindset has helped Stuttgart in the current season.
VfB Stuttgart are here with a plan. They will fight for a European spot and make a comeback in the Champions League. Almost 1/4 of the season is over, and the team has only lost once and won all other matches. This will be a confidence boost for the whole squad, and they will look to maintain this form.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine