VFB Stuttgart Season 2022 Match 33

Mainz – VfB Stuttgart

Date: 21st May 2023, 3:30 pm

Result: 1 – 4

I was listening to this match on the radio with my son, while we were on a train to Stuttgart. When Mainz scored the first goal we groaned. I felt like turning the radio off, but Benjamin wanted to carry on listening. Then Stuttgart scored an equaliser in the 41st minute. Or did they? There were appeals against the goal, and the referee had to check the monitor. Our train went into a tunnel, and the radio transmission was interrupted. It wasn't until five minutes later that we heard that the goal had been allowed.

In the second half Stuttgart scored another two goals, and there was a fourth goal in extra time. Even though I was following the match only on a radio broadcast, I could tell that VfB Stuttgart played an exceptional game. With only two games left in the season, they've finally woken up and realised that it's serious.

Check the league table. Stuttgart is now at the top of the cellar, equal in points with Bochum, but ahead on goal difference.

1.	Dortmund	70
2.	Bayern München	68
3.	RB Leipzig	63
4.	Union Berlin	59
5.	SC Freiburg	59
6.	Leverkusen	49
7.	Wolfsburg	49
8.	Eintracht Frankfurt	47
9.	Mainz	45
10.	Köln	42
11.	Mönchengladbach	39
12.	Werder Bremen	36
13.	Hoffenheim	35
14.	Augsburg	34
15.	VfB Stuttgart	32
16.	VfL Bochum	32
17.	Schalke 04	31
18.	Hertha	26

There's one match left this season. Let me explain how it works. The bottom two teams are automatically relegated. The team in 16th place has to play against the team in the third place of the second league to decide whether it's relegated or not.

Let's play with the numbers. Hertha will be relegated. There's no more hope for them.

If Stuttgart loses against Hoffenheim next week, Stuttgart will only remain in the league if Bochum and Schalke both lose. 

If Stuttgart draws next week, Stuttgart will only remain in the league if neither Bochum nor Schalke wins.

If Stuttgart wins next week, the team is safe. They can live to fight another day.

So there's excitement and nail-biting until the very last game. But please, VfB, don't do it again.