VfB Stuttgart 1-0 Heidenheim Player Ratings: Jeff Chabot 8.5/10 Rated as Bilal El Khannouss' Stunner Secures 1-0 Victory

A moment of sheer brilliance from Bilal El Khannouss was all it took to separate VfB Stuttgart and Heidenheim in a tight Bundesliga contest. The match was largely a tactical chess game, with Stuttgart dominating the ball but struggling to break down a resolute Heidenheim defense. From our perspective, it felt like a game that was always going to be decided by a single goal.

Stuttgart controlled the tempo from the start. They patiently probed for openings. However, Heidenheim's goalkeeper, Diant Ramaj, was in inspired form, making several crucial saves to keep his side level. What stood out to us was his confidence in claiming crosses and stopping long-range efforts. Heidenheim had their own moments, most notably a fantastic effort from Mikkel Kaufmann that was well-saved.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute. Bilal El Khannouss unleashed a spectacular right-footed shot from outside the box that flew into the net. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. Following the goal, Stuttgart's defense, marshalled by the immense Jeff Chabot, held firm to see out a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Here are the VfB Stuttgart vs Heidenheim player ratings.

VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings vs Heidenheim

Here are the VfB Stuttgart player ratings vs Heidenheim.

Goalkeeper

Alexander Nübel - 6.5: Had very little to do for most of the game, a testament to his defense. He made the one save required of him from Kaufmann's effort with confidence. His distribution was solid, helping launch attacks from the back. A quiet but effective day at the office.

Defenders

Lorenz Assignon - 7.0: A really solid performance on the right flank. Defensively, he was sound, making six clearances and winning his tackles. He tried to get forward and support the attack, though his final ball sometimes lacked precision. Overall, a very dependable outing.

Jeff Chabot - 8.5: Our man of the match. What a monstrous performance. We noticed he was everywhere, winning an incredible nine duels and making nine clearances. His reading of the game was sublime, with three key interceptions. On top of his defensive duties, he was composed on the ball, spraying 97 accurate passes. An absolute rock.

Luca Jaquez - 7.0: Looked very composed during his 56 minutes on the pitch. His passing was crisp and he even created two chances for his teammates. It was a mature performance that was surprisingly cut short by a substitution. He didn't put a foot wrong.

Maximilian Mittelstädt - 8.0: A fantastic all-round display from the left-back. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal, a reward for his attacking intent. Defensively, he was a bulldog, winning four of his five tackles. He was a constant outlet on the left and a key figure in this victory.

Midfielders

Atakan Karazor - 6.5: The captain did his job quietly before being substituted. He kept possession ticking over in midfield, acting as the team's metronome. While not spectacular, he provided a stable platform for the more creative players to operate from. A steady, if unspectacular, shift.

Chema Andrés - 7.5: What stood out to us was his incredible work rate. He recovered the ball ten times and was a disruptive force in midfield. He was strong in the tackle and used the ball intelligently, rarely giving it away. An unsung hero in the middle of the park.

Jamie Leweling - 7.5: A livewire throughout the match. His energy was infectious, and he won an impressive 100% of his duels. He was a constant threat with his running and crossing from the wing, creating one key chance. A tireless performance that deserved more of an end product.

Bilal El Khannouss - 8.0: The match-winner. His goal was a thing of beauty, a strike of pure quality from distance. Beyond the goal, he was the main creative force, creating four chances for his team. His yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise brilliant and decisive performance.

Badredine Bouanani - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the midfielder. He showed glimpses of his talent but was ultimately wasteful, missing a significant chance in the first half. From our perspective, he seemed to snatch at his opportunities. Substituted early in the second half.

Forwards

Ermedin Demirovic - 5.5: A difficult day for the forward. He was physically engaged but gave away four fouls and struggled to make an impact in the final third. His work rate was there, but the quality was lacking. He was well-marshalled by the Heidenheim defense.

Substitutes

Angelo Stiller - 6.5: Came on and helped maintain control in midfield.

Tiago Tomás - 6.0: Looked lively but couldn't find a breakthrough.

Ameen Al Dakhil - 6.0: Slotted in well at the back.

Nikolas Nartey - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

S. Hoeneß - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. The team was patient, dominated the ball, and waited for a moment of quality to decide the game. His substitutions helped see out the result effectively. A well-managed victory.

Heidenheim Player Ratings vs VfB Stuttgart

Here are the Heidenheim player ratings vs VfB Stuttgart.

Goalkeeper

Diant Ramaj - 7.5: Heidenheim's best player on the day. He made five saves, some of which were top-drawer stops that kept his team in the contest for so long. He was commanding and confident. He could do nothing about the spectacular winning goal. A very impressive performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Omar Traoré - 6.0: A tough outing for the right-back. He struggled to contain Stuttgart's left side and lost possession 14 times. He defended dutifully but offered little going forward. A functional but limited performance.

Patrick Mainka - 7.0: The captain led by example at the back. He was a warrior, making seven clearances and blocking three shots. He won most of his aerial battles and was a constant presence. He'll be disappointed to have missed a late headed chance to equalize.

Tim Siersleben - 6.5: A solid, no-nonsense defensive display. He made six clearances and was generally in the right place at the right time. His distribution could have been better, as he gave the ball away 15 times, but his primary job was to defend, and he did it reasonably well.

Jonas Föhrenbach - 6.5: Was very busy on the left side of the defense. He racked up an impressive ten clearances and recovered the ball seven times. He stuck to his task well and made it difficult for Stuttgart's attackers. A diligent defensive shift.

Midfielders

Julian Niehues - 6.0: Worked hard in the engine room but was largely bypassed by Stuttgart's slick passing. He made a few interceptions but struggled to impose himself on the game before being substituted. An honest effort without much impact.

Jan Schöppner - 5.5: Found it difficult in the midfield battle. He won just 5 of his 12 duels and lost possession frequently. It felt like the game passed him by a little. He couldn't get a foothold to influence proceedings.

Luca Kerber - 5.0: A day to forget. From our perspective, he spent most of the match chasing shadows and committing fouls. He gave away five free-kicks, picked up a yellow card, and lost nine duels. He was tenacious but far too reckless.

Niklas Dorsch - 6.5: One of Heidenheim's brighter sparks in midfield. He recovered the ball eight times and used it tidily, with a high pass completion rate. He provided some much-needed composure before being withdrawn in the 74th minute.

Arijon Ibrahimovic - 5.0: He was completely anonymous. Losing the ball 20 times is a shocking statistic for an attacking midfielder. He failed to create anything of note and was a passenger for large parts of the game. A very disappointing display.

Forwards

Mikkel Kaufmann - 6.5: He was a lone warrior up front. He fought for everything, winning seven aerial duels and holding the ball up well. He had Heidenheim's best chance with a powerful shot that forced a good save. He was starved of service but did his best with what he had.

Substitutes

Stefan Schimmer - 6.0: Added a physical presence but had little service.

Yannik Wagner - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Marnon Busch - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Adam Kölle - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Tobias Weigel - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

F. Schmidt - 6.0: His team was organized and difficult to beat, which was clearly the plan. However, they offered almost nothing in an attacking sense. His substitutions failed to change the dynamic of the match, as his team chased an equalizer without conviction.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Jeff Chabot