Stuttgart consolidate third spot with 2-0 win over Union

Third-placed VfB Stuttgart moved just a point behind Bayern Munich with a 2-0 home win over Union Berlin on Friday which reinforced their Champions League qualification hopes.

Top scorer Serhou Guirassy grabbed the opener on 19 minutes in a wide open first half which the Berliners arguably edged. Midfielder Chris Führich, who has desires on a spot in Germany's Euro 2024 squad given his form, then made the game safe with a superb finish on 65.

"We are playing great," Führich told DAZN. "But there are a lot of other top players vying for a spot on the left (for Germany)."

Stuttgart could only have dreamt of having a 10-point cushion to fifth-placed RB Leipzig with only 10 games left for their rivals this season but that is exactly where Sebastian Hoeneß' side find themselves.

He took over in April last year to guide them away from relegation, a battle they had been in for years, even dropping into the second tier for a season in 2019-20 after losing the play-off to Union.

But Hoeneß, who signed a new contract until 2027 earlier on Friday amid possible interest from Bayern, has harnessed the spirit of the 2007 title-winning team and inspired Stuttgart to the verge of a top- four finish and the promised land of the Champions League.

A big reason for their success has been the form of Guinea striker Guirassy, who netted his 21st goal of the league season with a fine first-time shot with his right foot after the perfect through-ball from Atakan Karazor.

Guirassy, despite getting injured in January and being at the African Nations Cup, is second in the Bundesliga scoring charts behind Bayern's Harry Kane.

Führich's seventh goal of a breakout Bundesliga season aged 26 followed midway through the second half just when the game looked to be going stale.

Union's Hungary midfielder András Schäfer was sent off soon afterwards for a knee-high tackle.

"I think we have to accept Stuttgart's win," said Union wing back Robin Gosens.

Union have edged away from danger under Nenad Bjelica after a terrible first half of the season under Urs Fischer, the man who was sacked despite being a club icon for bringing them up in that 2019 play-off.

But the 14th-placed side have now not won in three matches and hope they have done enough not to get dragged back into a relegation battle, with third-bottom Cologne eight points away ahead of their derby at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.

Bayern also host Mainz on Saturday while unbeaten leaders Bayer Leverkusen welcome Wolfsburg on Sunday.