Stiller given the all-clear following injury against Hoffenheim

Angelo Stiller has escaped serious injury following a collision in the Hoffenheim penalty area. The 25-year-old was “lucky in his misfortune” and suffered only a bruise, Stuttgart announced the day after their 2-1 defeat to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. However, the club did not specify whether he would need to take a break from training.

Stiller was forced off with an injury in the 35th minute of Saturday’s match. Around ten minutes earlier, he had initially gone down following a collision and had also taken a knee to the leg from TSG defender Ozan Kabak. Stiller initially continued after receiving treatment, but shortly afterwards signalled that he wanted to be substituted.

“I only heard that he had a hematoma on his knee that was affecting him,” VfB Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß reported after the final whistle. “I don’t know how serious it is.” The subsequent diagnosis proved to be less concerning.

Hoeneß was irritated that no penalty was awarded and that VAR did not intervene. “That’s a foul,” judged the coach, who had reviewed the replay. “You can see immediately how his knee buckles, and there’s no delay between the impact and the sensation of pain. He falls and screams immediately.”

Referee Sven Jablonski told Hoeneß that he had not seen the incident. “But then he has someone in the VAR room who can see it for him. Surely there’s a possibility of at least giving him the opportunity to reassess the situation,” Hoeneß complained.

Stiller has started all five of Stuttgart’s competitive matches so far this season. VfB Stuttgart will return to action at home against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday.

World Cup participant Stiller is also a candidate for new national team coach Jürgen Klopp. Klopp is set to announce his first Germany squad next Thursday, with Stiller potentially in contention for a place.