In their home game against Young Boys Bern, VfB turned things around after halftime and secured their first home Champions League win in 15 years. The 5–1 victory was emphatic, though one possibly decisive moment in the game was less so.
Wow. That was close. Not the final result for VfB against BSC Young Boys, who ultimately fell apart in the Neckarstadion, but rather the VAR decision that confirmed Enzo Millot’s goal for 2–1. The assistant referee was quite convinced that Fabian Rieder had scraped the ball not off the line but from out of bounds before his assist — and the visiting team and I felt the same. However, Rieder and Millot ignored the wildly flag-waving assistant and wisely played on — as you should until the referee blows the whistle. In this case, the whistle signaled a goal for VfB and a restart for the Bern team, marking yet another red-and-white comeback after falling behind. True precision work. In a match featuring five goals, this one might seem a mere footnote, but it clearly rattled the Swiss champions. They fell so out of rhythm that, while they managed to fend off Ermedin Demirović, they conceded three more goals — from Chris Führich, Josha Vagnoman, and even Yannik Keitel, each more spectacular than the last.
As elegantly as the players with the red stripe swept their opponents aside after halftime, they had struggled in the first half. Once again, they conceded an early goal due to passive play. The YB players used the moment for a heartfelt tribute to their teammate Meschack Elia and his late child. Following this, VfB found themselves up against a compact, high-pressing opponent who sensed opportunity, much like Belgrade had done. The visitors tried to translate their years of league dominance into points on the international stage. VfB had no access in attack, created few dangerous passes, and resorted to possession play and lateral movement. You could optimistically argue that VfB was setting up their opponent, as seen with Angelo Stiller’s precise equalizer. But that would assume the team had a plan for overcoming the deficit, which they lacked for much of the half.
VfB Football at Its Best
The team often seems hesitant to play quick, decisive passes — like the one that led to the equalizer — to advance forward. Instead, they run down the left wing for the tenth time while Josh Vagnoman is stranded on the opposite side. Goalkeeper Alex Nübel, who didn’t look great on the conceded goal but had to deal with Jeff Chabot blocking his view, often holds onto the ball far too long, waiting for the opponent to push forward — something they haven’t done since the season began. Enzo Millot’s ambitious diagonal passes, while spectacular, seem almost telegraphed to the opponent. The team continues to make life unnecessarily hard for themselves, perhaps due to physical or emotional exhaustion, only to suddenly find their rhythm when they remember how to play.
The second half showcased VfB football at its best: alert for the go-ahead goal, coordinated in the free-kick routine where Fabi Rieder set up Chris Führich for a brilliant finish, energetic in Joshua Vagnoman’s strike, and bold in Yannik Keitel’s closing goal. The only player who couldn’t find the net was Ermedin Demirović. Despite scoring seven league goals this season, nothing worked for him in the Champions League on this night. In such games, a player like him is usually indispensable, and this time it wasn’t due to a lack of service. Hopefully, he can regain his scoring touch before Christmas and, in the new year, work with Jamie Leweling and Deniz Undav to keep VfB’s European hopes alive.
Focusing on Strengths
This result offsets the blowout loss in Belgrade in terms of goal difference, though the points are still missing. The group stage ends after just eight games, and the standings are incredibly tight, making goal difference crucial. With so many teams in the mix, it’s hard to keep track, but it seems VfB not only needs a win in Bratislava but also at least a point against Paris Saint-Germain. That’s a tall order, one the team will hopefully face with a bit more rest and reinforcements — and the right mindset. Away at Slovan and against Paris, there may not be opportunities to stage such comebacks. The last two games, however, should encourage the team to focus on their strengths in the league matches against bottom-tier teams Heidenheim and St. Pauli. VfB is gaining momentum.
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