Stuttgart Among Bundesliga Contenders
Stuttgart Run Towards Top Has Feeling Of 2007 Crown
Apr 15, 2009
Stuttgart have won nine of their last 13 games to move to fifth place in the German Bundesliga and just points from first place. Markus Babbel's team is a contender to win the sixth crown in club history. And Stuttgart's current run has a similar feeling to the late-season charge that led to the 2007 championship.
Late November Doldrums
It was not easy being a Stuttgart fan in November 2008. Despite mild hopes of contending for a title - or at least a spot in European play next season - head coach Armin Veh was just not reaching his team. Stuttgart finished October with a 2-0 loss at home and then lost 3-1 at home against promoted Cologne. A 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a lethargic scoreless draw at home against Arminia Bielefeld and then came the final straw, a 4-1 drubbing at Wolfsburg on November 22.
Veh Ouster, Babbel Brought In As Interim
Stuttgart were lingering in 11th place with 18 points from 14 matches - 13 points behind the leaders Hoffenheim and eight points behind fifth-placed Hamburg which held the last international spot. And that led Stuttgart management to fire head coach Armin Veh, who had guided the club to the 2007 title - their first since the 1991-92 season. His replacement would be his interim coach and former player Markus Babbel, who was training under Veh to get a coaching license.
UEFA Cup Draw At Sampdoria Genua To Start Career
Babbel's first game as Stuttgart boss came on November 27 and he led the team to a 1-1 draw at Italian club Sampdoria Genua in the UEFA Cup. Stuttgart gave Babbel his first victory as coach three days later, beating Schalke 2-0 at home. After a 3-0 win at Energie Cottbus, Babbel's men played to a 2-2 draw at home against Bayern Munich in the final Bundesliga match before the winter break. Stuttgart finished off the 2008 calendar year with a 3-0 home victory over Standard Liege to advance from the group stage of the UEFA Cup.
Winter Break Seven Points From Fifth
The two wins and one draw before the winter break pulled Stuttgart within seven points of fifth-placed Leverkusen and 10 of leaders Hoffenheim.
One Loss In 10 Games, Fifth Place
Stuttgart reeled off two wins, two draws then two wins to start the second half before dropping their first game under Babbel - 4-0 at Werder Bremen. But Babbel's men bounced back with a 2-0 win over leaders Hertha Berlin and after beating Bochum saw Mario Gomez score an injury time goal for a 1-0 win against Hamburg to stay in fifth place.
Six Points From First, Four Points Up On Sixth
Stuttgart's 9-3-1 run over the last 13 games has put them in the discussion of teams that could challenge for the title. They are six points behind first place Wolfsburg. But more importantly, they have a four point lead on Hoffenheim for fifth place and the final spot in European competition next season.
Recent Run Recalls 2007
The push with Babbel on the sidelines draws some comparisons to Stuttgart's amazing finish in collecting the 2007 crown. In the 26th week, Stuttgart were beaten at Schalke to remain in third place with 46 points - seven points behind Schalke and four behind second-placed Werder Bremen. But Stuttgart reeled off eight straight victories - including wins over all three teams which would get relegated (Alemannia Aachen, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Mainz) in winning the league and adding the 2007 title to crowns from 1950, 1952, 1984 and 1992.
