Bundesliga Gameweek 1
Union Berlin 2 - 1 FT VfB Stuttgart
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Manchester City
5-3
Sunderland
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
67
🎲 Upset
0
Eight goals, hat-trick heroics, pure chaos.
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Atletico Madrid
2-1
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
86
⚖️ Balance
31
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
A chaotic derby flips Madrid's hierarchy.
Futmetrix Verdict
58
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Deportivo La Coruna
1-1
Real Betis
⚡ Intensity
43
⚖️ Balance
44
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
37
Late drama denies Betis away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
18' I. Ansah
Deniz Undav 33'
45' I. Ansah (A. Ilic)
HT
50' Janik Haberer
Josha Vagnoman 52'
58' Rani Khedira
↓ E. Demirovic ↑T. Tomas 65'
67' ↓ J. Haberer ↑A. Kral
67' ↓ R. Skov ↑D. Kohn
↓ J. Vagnoman ↑C. Fuhrich 71'
76' ↓ I. Ansah ↑O. Burke
82' Andrej Ilić
↓ J. Chabot ↑R. Hendriks 82'
↓ A. Karazor ↑L. Jovanovic 82'
Jamie Leweling 83'
84' ↓ C. Trimmel ↑J. Juranovic
T. Tomas (C. Fuhrich) 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Union Berlin
Goalkeepers
Frederik Rønnow 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Christopher Trimmel 
GHOST
14
Actions
14
Actions
84
Minutes
7.2
Rating
Danilho Doekhi 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
45%
Duel Win %
Leopold Querfeld 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Tom Rothe
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Robert Skov
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
András Schäfer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rani Khedira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Janik Haberer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Forwards
Ilyas Ansah 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
9.2
Rating
Andrej Ilić 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
BENCH
Matheo Raab 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Derrick Köhn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Josip Juranović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Král
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tim Skarke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jeong Woo-Yeong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aljoscha Kemlein
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oliver Burke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marin Ljubičić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
VfB Stuttgart
Goalkeepers
Alexander Nübel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Josha Vagnoman
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Luca Jaquez 
MAGNET
113
Activity
113
Activity
98
Passes
15
Duels
Julian Chabot
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
90
Passes
13
Duels
Maximilian Mittelstädt 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
82%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Atakan Karazor
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Angelo Stiller
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
91%
Pass Acc
Nick Woltemade 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Deniz Undav
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Jamie Leweling
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Ermedin Demirović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
BENCH
Fabian Bredlow
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ramon Hendriks
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pascal Stenzel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Finn Jeltsch
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chris Führich 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
19
Minutes
7.3
Rating
Nikolas Nartey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
José María Andrés
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tiago Tomás 
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
Lazar Jovanović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/23/2025 | Union Berlin | 2 - 1 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | Stadion An der Alten Försterei |
| 04/19/2025 | Union Berlin | 4 - 4 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | Stadion An der Alten Försterei |
| 12/06/2024 | VfB Stuttgart | 3 - 2 | Union Berlin | Bundesliga | MHPArena |
| 03/08/2024 | VfB Stuttgart | 2 - 0 | Union Berlin | Bundesliga | Stuttgart Arena |
| 10/31/2023 | VfB Stuttgart | 1 - 0 | Union Berlin | DFB Pokal | MHP Arena |
| 10/21/2023 | Union Berlin | 0 - 3 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | Stadion An der Alten Försterei |
08/23/2025
04/19/2025
12/06/2024
03/08/2024
10/31/2023
10/21/2023
Union Berlin Win
VfB Stuttgart Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 1 GD: 0
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Union Berlin
VfB Stuttgart
Union Berlin
VfB Stuttgart
Ansah's Clinical Finishing Ends Stuttgart's Possession Masterclass
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. At Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Union Berlin delivered a masterclass in efficiency over elegance, dismantling Stuttgart's possession dominance with two clinical strikes that exposed the gulf between controlling the ball and controlling the match.
Ansah's 45-Minute Demolition
Ilyas Ansah announced himself as Union's cutting edge with ruthless precision. His opener in the 18th minute was a statement of intent—Union Berlin weren't here to admire Stuttgart's passing patterns. His second, assisted by A. Ilic on the stroke of half-time, had already decided the contest. With a 9.2 rating and a brace, Ansah embodied Union's counter-attacking philosophy: devastating in transition, lethal in execution. The intensity was relentless from the opening whistle—29 combined shots told the story of a match where both sides came to play, but only one converted their moments.
Stuttgart's Possession Paradise Becomes a Nightmare
Stuttgart dominated the statistics sheet: 75% possession, 21 shots, an 89% pass accuracy. Yet Frederik Rönnow stood immovable between the sticks, recording five saves with an 8.5 rating that reflected his crucial interventions. Jeff Chabot delivered a defensive masterclass (7.9 rating), but even his steadiness couldn't convert Stuttgart's territorial advantage into goals. The balance was grotesquely skewed: Stuttgart's xG of 1.73 versus Union's 0.34 screamed injustice, yet football doesn't reward possession—it rewards conversion.
Too Little, Too Late
Substitute Tiago Tomas, introduced in the 65th minute, provided the late spark Stuttgart desperately needed. His 86th-minute goal, courtesy of C. Fuhrich's assist, halved the deficit but arrived when Union's grip on the match was already unshakeable. With 16 corners and a relentless siege, Stuttgart had engineered enough pressure to bury most opponents—but Union's intensity in defence proved unbreakable. The lead changed hands just once, but the narrative never wavered: efficiency beats possession every time.
Key Questions
What made Ilyas Ansah the match-winner?
Ansah's brace in 45 minutes was clinical finishing under pressure. His two goals proved Union's counter-attacking threat was more dangerous than Stuttgart's possession dominance.
Should Stuttgart have won this match?
On the numbers, yes. Stuttgart's 1.73 xG, 75% possession, and 21 shots demanded a victory—but Rönnow's five saves and Union's ruthless transitions told a different story.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Tactical Chess on Opening Day
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 17/100. A classic early-season encounter where defensive structure takes precedence over offensive fluidity as both teams find their feet.
The Setup
As the Bundesliga returns on August 23, 2025, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei prepares for a stern test of resolve. Union Berlin looks to rebuild their reputation as a defensive fortress after a mediocre 12th-place finish last term. Conversely, VfB Stuttgart enters the campaign following a top-six finish, aiming to prove their consistency. The Stakes are typical for a Matchday 1 fixture—focused on avoiding a morale-damaging defeat. With the Stars rating hindered by a lack of marquee names, the tactical Balance of both midfields will be the deciding factor.
Key Battle
The game’s outcome hinges on whether VfB Stuttgart can dictate the tempo. A. Stiller will be the primary distributor, tasked with threading passes through a compact Union block. Without specific star attackers listed for the hosts, Union Berlin will rely on their collective discipline to neutralize threats like N. Woltemade. It is a battle of Stuttgart’s creativity against Berlin’s physical organization in the middle third.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey affair. Stuttgart is likely to dominate possession, but breaking down a fresh Union backline at home is a notorious challenge. Neither side is at peak match Form yet, which often leads to shared points in the opener. A 1-1 draw seems the most logical outcome, with both goals coming from set-pieces or defensive lapses rather than sustained brilliance.