VfB needing help from Bremen for title

With VfB’s 2-0 victory over Cottbus at the Neckarstadion on Saturday, the Bundesliga championship race will come down to the final weekend. Trailing first place by two points, Markus Babbel’s side look ahead to their match against Bayern München knowing a victory along with Bremen’s upset of Wolfsburg will cap a stunning comeback with the Bundesliga title.

Without Mario Gómez and Sami Khedira in the starting eleven the capacity ground urged VfB on against a tough Cottbus side. Those expecting a slow start to the match were surprised as both sides were advancing early with a series of close chances. At the nineteenth minute VfB took the lead as Thomas Hitzlsperger’s free-kick from the right managed to go untouched before bouncing in off the far post and in. Cottbus continued to fight back and were for the most part created the sole chances after the break. In the final quarter-hour Shao Jiayi, formerly of CSL’s Beijing Guoan, came close but his effort rang off the crossbar and with twelve minutes left VfB scored a much needed insurance goal. With Cottbus exposed at the back, Markus Babbel’s side countered with a long pass to the left flank finding Mario Gómez, who had come on ten minutes early, with the striker crossing back to the centre for Cacau to finish from ten metres.

Markus Babbel said after the match:

“I’m unbelievably proud of my team and anyone who supports VfB can be proud today too! The team performed extraordinarily and have now put themselves in a fantastic position for going into the game next Saturday. Now we need to gather our strength if we are to do the undoable in Munich next week.”

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