Stuttgart are scoring goals for fun, but it's their much-improved defence that is winning games

Sebastian Hoeneß has transformed a defensive line of average players into Bundesliga world-beaters that can now rival Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.

Ask most Bundesliga football fans to describe Stuttgart’s impressive start to the season in two words and they’ll almost certainly respond: “Serhou Guirassy”. Some may venture the answer “Chris Führich”, while others may go as far as to say none of the club’s success to date would be possible without the smart thinking and clever tactics of answer C: “Sebastian Hoeneß”. And all three answers are perfectly good responses. 

Saturday’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt was not only a carbon copy of the impressive victory by the exact same result against Borussia Dortmund prior to the international break, but was also further proof that the Swabian club mean business this season. They’re no flash in the pan or flavour of the month. Stuttgart are the real deal and are more than happy proving that against some of Germany’s biggest clubs. However, while the club’s front line continue to steal the headlines, it’s really Hoeneß’s defence that is ensuring that they keep winning games.