By: Our Football Correspondent
VfB Stuttgart delivered a thunderous 4-1 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League last night, in a result that truly underlined the formidable atmosphere of their home ground, the MHPArena.
The grand stadium in Stuttgart city, Germany, was the stage for a dominant display from the German side, who wasted no time asserting their authority over the Israeli visitors. For all of Maccabi’s resilience, they could not withstand the pressure cooker environment created within the colossal home of the Swabians.
The match was all but decided by half-time, with the home crowd cheering on every move. Stuttgart’s fullbacks were the unlikely heroes of the night. It was Lorenz Assignon who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, firing in his first-ever Stuttgart goal to spark joyous scenes among the faithful at the MHPArena.
Just thirteen minutes later, the stadium erupted again when Tiago Tomás found the net in the 37th minute, sending VfB into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The second half started just as the first ended. A penalty five minutes after the restart, coolly converted by Maximilian Mittelstädt (50′), put the tie firmly beyond doubt at 3-0.
While Maccabi Tel Aviv grabbed a small consolation goal through Roy Revivo just two minutes later (52′), it barely registered as a blip on the night’s performance.
With the game in its dying moments, substitute Josha Vagnoman applied the final flourish in the 94th minute, securing a superb 4-1 win for VfB Stuttgart.
The result means the MHPArena once again proved to be a fortress in Europe, as Stuttgart comfortably saw off their opponents.
The impressive display ensures Sebastian Hoeneß’s men continue their strong push towards the knockout stages, keeping the European dream alive in the heart of the Swabian capital.
