Stuttgart - Timişoara - 2009

By comparison with the eleven that took to the pitch in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund, trainer Markus Babbel opted to make four changes for the Champions League Play-Off return leg clash with FC Timisoara. On the night, Serdar Tasci, Ciprian Marica, Timo Gebhart and Pavel Pogrebnyak began in place of Georg Niedermeier, Aliaksandr Hleb, Cacau and Julian Schieber. Contrary to their pre-match intentions, FC Timisoara failed to produce the promised determined attacking display, whilst VfB began more cautiously and focused initially on order within the ranks. As the game progressed, Markus Babbel's eleven took control of proceedings but saw chances for Thomas Hitzlsperger, Timo Gebhart and Ciprian Marica all go a-begging and as a result, the sides went in at the break still at 0-0. VfB again dominated in the second half of the match, with the knowledge of their 2-0 advantage from the first leg to comfort them, but were at no time capable turning their superiority into goals. The best chance of the night fell to Sebastian Rudy, following a free-kick by Thomas Hitzlsperger, but the young midfielder saw his effort from 14 meters out crash away off the post. FC Timisoara had very little to offer going forward, aside from one incident in the 67th minute when Bucur got to the ball ahead of Jens Lehmann but turned his header wide of the post. In the end the game finished in a 0-0 draw with very few genuine highlights. Markus Babbel's men were always in complete control of the tie and deservedly progress now to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Markus Babbel, coach of Stuttgart: "I saw a good performance from my team tonight, we were very concentrated. We never allowed our opponents a chance and managed to create some good openings for ourselves. The lads have rewarded themselves for a fantastic fight back in the second half of last season. By progressing to the group stage of the Champions League, a dream has come true for the fans and the team. If I could wish for one opponent in particular then that would be Liverpool . It would be something really special to play against my former club".

Ioan Ovidiu Sabau, coach of FC Timisoara: "Our opponents weren't superior to us. The problem was that we have played with fear, the strikers moved just a little and stayed more with their back at opposite post. There are many things I have to reproach to myself after the game. I am not pleased by the way we have played. We didn't have ambition and attitude from the matches with Shakhtar, the desire to win. After the way we have played we should be pleased with Europa League".