Post-Woltemade's departure, VfB enthusiastically supports Gladbach.
VfB Stuttgart have started their Bundesliga campaign with a victory, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 in a closely contested match. The winning goal was scored by Chema Andrés in the 79th minute, marking his first for the club.
The game, played at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, lacked creativity and playfulness overall, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The hosts looked for the way to the goal early in the match, with Jamie Leweling having a shot deflected. However, it was Tiago Tomás who had the best VfB chance of the first half, but unfortunately, he was unable to convert.
The departure of Nick Woltemade to Newcastle United had an impact on Stuttgart's offensive play. To fill the void, the club has signed Badredine Bouanani from French club OGC Nizza as a replacement. The 20-year-old Algerian international and versatile offensive player will strengthen the team's attack. Additionally, Bilal El Khannouss joined on loan from Leicester City, providing more options up front after a planned transfer for Hyeon-Gyu Oh failed due to a failed medical check.
Borussia Mönchengladbach, meanwhile, ended their first round match in a goalless draw with promoted Hamburger SV. The visitors failed to score their first goal of the season, with Kevin Stöger missing the lead for them in the 51st minute.
Alexander Wehrle, the board chairman, stated that they have a responsibility to the club as a whole regarding transfers. He expressed confidence that they will present good solutions by the end of the transfer period. The former VfB midfielder Sami Khedira thinks the club handled the transfer correctly.
The match was not without its dramatic moments. Alexander Nübel, the Stuttgart goalkeeper, parried Philipp Sander's header from a free kick in the 25th minute. Lukas Ullrich also had a good shooting opportunity due to a failed pass by Nübel, but his shot went too high in the 22nd minute.
Deniz Undav, a key player for Stuttgart, had to be substituted due to a knee injury. Chris Fuhrich came on as a substitute and immediately became involved in the attack. Jamie Leweling tested Nicolas, the Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper, with a sharp cross in the 59th minute.
The victory sees Stuttgart start their season on a positive note, with the club set to receive up to 90 million euros for the transfer of Woltemade, a record for the club. The team will look to build on this win as they continue their Bundesliga campaign.
