Undav turns provider as Guirassy scores again
Stuttgart extended its unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to eight games as its usual outlets delivered the goods in a 3-0 defeat of Hoffenheim.
Where Deniz Undav faltered in front of goal, he made up for it with two assists for Enzo Millot and Serhou Guirassy, before Jamie Leweling emerged from the bench to put the contest to bed midway through the second half.
Millot's goal 16 minutes in was his third shot of the game, and capped a beautiful team move that involved Chris Fuhrich and Guirassy, before Undav slid in the midfielder for a simple open-bodied finish into the bottom-left corner.
Undav the provider notched his second assist after more fine Stuttgart interplay practically on the half-time whistle. It was a nonchalant ball that unlocked the Hoffenheim defence and Guirassy smashed home for his fifth goal in as many games, and his 22nd Bundesliga goal in just 20 appearances this term.
For Undav, the pair of assists took him up to 20 direct goal involvements in just 21 games – an addition to the evidence pile as to why Germany have called the Brighton loanee up for their upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and France.
The visitors went three-up thanks to Leweling. There was to be no assist for Undav this time, as the substitute slammed home brilliantly from a corner.
As the triplet of goals tumbled through, it rang true to Stuttgart's opening prowess – they still have not lost in the last 16 games where they have opened the scoring.
It was a sorry performance from European hopefuls Hoffenheim, who mustered only one shot on target, while Stuttgart had 11 going the other way.
Stuttgart hot off the mark as Hoffenheim struggle to get going
Stuttgart's two first-half goals means they now have 27 such goals in 26 games, a tally bettered by only Bayern Munich (32) in the Bundesliga this season.
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, had little to offer. The hosts' usual threat and creator, Maximilian Beier, is also looking forward to German national team action, yet he found himself isolated. His lack of influence spoke volumes on Hoffenheim's meagre output, and he had just nine touches in the first half.
While his best player was snuffed out, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo did not have any better luck finding inspiration from the home fans as the travelling Stuttgart supporters took over the PreZero Arena. It reflected in the shots, with Hoffenheim's seven being dwarfed by the visitors' 25.
Superb Swabians bound for the Champions League
While the dust settled on this one, there was very much a feeling of jubilation for those of a Stuttgart persuasion.
Though Sebastian Hoeness' side are 11 points off runaway leaders Bayer Leverkusen, their hot streak of three wins on the bounce sees them consolidating their place in the top three, with a seven-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed RB Leipzig, and the Champions League is calling.
After Bayern defeated Darmstadt earlier on Saturday, Stuttgart needed a victory to close the gap back to four points. With a meeting between the two teams coming up in May, the Bundesliga's two main strikers could be going blow for blow.
Guirassy averages a goal every 66 minutes this term. Harry Kane, although scoring more, averages a goal every 79. Whatever the outcome of the best-of-the-rest race, assuming Leverkusen go and get the job done, it is certainly going to be entertaining viewing.
Hoeness, meanwhile, has now claimed 69 points from his first 34 Bundesliga games in charge of Stuttgart. His points per game average of 2.03 is the most of any coach of the club in Bundesliga history.
