VfB Stuttgart were held to a 1-1 draw by SV Werder Bremen on matchday 15 of the Bundesliga. However, a draw doesn't really help either team as both remain in the bottom third of the standings.
It was the home debut for Stuttgart's caretaker manager Jürgen Kramny, and at half-time it looked as if VfB were on course for their fourth win of the season – but Bremen came out strong in the second half and earned themselves a point. Lukas Rupp had scored the opener for Stuttgart after 33 minutes, but a close-range strike from Anthony Ujah midway through the second half levelled the scores.
Stuttgart were looking for defensive stability after having conceded twelve goals in their previous three games. Their attacking efforts were thus not a main concern in the opening stages of the game. Bremen on the other hand were slightly passive, which resulted in a scrappy start to the game before Stuttgart started to see more of the ball and create first chances through Daniel Schwaab and Timo Baumgartl. The eventually took the lead when Filip Kostic charged down the wing to play a cross into the box, which Rupp collected at the edge of the area to fire home a powerful shot.
Clemens Fritz with the assist
But Bremen got their equaliser in the second half when a long-range attempt by Clemens Fritz was deflected by Toni Sunjic to give Ujah a tap-in from close range. Both teams then went looking for a winner in the closing stages – first Bremen's Levin Öztünali hit the crossbar, before Germany U21 international Timo Werner missed a huge chance for Stuttgart just a few minutes before the final whistle.
Darmstadt secure derby glory in Frankfurt
Promoted side Darmstadt 98 concluded Bundesliga matchday 15 with a 1-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt. It was the first encounter between the two derby rivals in almost 34 years.
Skipper Aytac Sulu scored the only goal of the match in the 30th minute. Frankfurt are now without a win from their last five games, having earned just one win from their last eleven games. Darmstadt, who had never won in Frankfurt in the history of the club prior to this game, are now in 12th place with 18 points.
51,500 spectators witnessed a hectic start to the game with neither side managing to take control. Frankfurt had more to the game but failed to produce any clear chances, while the visitors were waiting for opportunities to counter attack. The first chance of the game was created after 23 minutes, but former Frankfurt player Jan Rosenthal failed to find the target. The same applied to Stefan Aigner at the other end a few minutes later.
Sulu then bagged the opener and his fourth goal of the campaign. Six minutes later, Sulu nearly added another goal to his tally, but this time his header went just over. After the break Frankfurt pushed for the equaliser, but Darmstadt keeper Christian Mathenia made several crucial saves as the visitors secured a heavily celebrated derby win in Frankfurt.
