Other Happenings to Care About | May 3, 2014

Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart (1-2) VfL Wolfsburg

0-1 Kevin de Bruyne (13')
1-1 Christian Gentner (62')
1-2 Ivica Olić (90')

Safe from relegation, Stuttgart did not muster much against Champions League hopefuls VfL Wolfsburg. They mustered only six shots total, half of which came outside the area, Christian Gentner the only one to get on the score sheet. Timo Werner replaced Cacau in the 75th minute in his final home game as a Stuttgarter in what was an "emotional day" for the former German international. Stuck in 15th place, Stuttgart's trip to Munich will have an existential match for both teams.

Stuttgart XI (4-2-3-1): Ulreich – Schwaab (Boka 82'), Rüdiger, Niedermeier, Sakai – Gentner, Gruezo – Traore, Didavi (Maxim 59'), Harnik – Cacau (Werner 75')

DFB-Pokal: Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund (3-2) TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

0-1 Roberto Firmino (5')
1-1 Kevin Großkreutz (29')
2-1 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (31')
3-1 Lukasz Piszczek (34')
3-2 Niklas Süle (66')

The Schwarzgelben recapitulated their explosiveness, scoring three goals in just five minutes after conceding an early strike from Roberto Firmino. Roman Weidenfeller had a performance to forget, but Mats Hummels and Sokratis Papastatopoulos provided the necessary support to see out the three points. Marcel Schmelzer put in a full shift after his adductor strain, and Milos Jojic could be cementing himself into midfield with another solid performance. Dortmund has proven most vulnerable defensively in an open match, but fortunately for them, Bayern do not play that way.

Borussia Dortmund XI (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Papastatopoulos, Hummels, Schmelzer – Jojić, Sahin – Mkhitaryan (Hofmann), Reus (Aubameyang 79'), Großkreutz – Lewandowski (Schieber 90+1')

Players of Interest

Robert Lewandowski's scoring rate continues to decline, but the performance he put in was much stronger than Bayer 04 Leverkusen a week ago. He also got a standing ovation when Julian Schieber replaced him in stoppage time, the final exit he will have as a Dortmund player in Signa Iduna Park... Jan Kirchhoff made his first appearance for FC Schalke 04 since Bayern loaned him in January. He came off the bench, filling in at the back after Felipe Santana collected a second yellow in the 73rd minute.