Kaiserslautern frustrate Stuttgart in Bundesliga

Stuttgart missed the chance to go seventh in the Bundesliga as they were frustrated by Kaiserslautern at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Having won their last two games, Stuttgart were hoping to gain further momentum and boost their challenge for a place in Europe next season, but despite spending most of the game attacking, they simply could not find a way through. Martin Harnik and Cacau had their best chances but Die Roten held firm for a point which still leaves them at the foot of the table. Harnik has been the Bundesliga's most prolific goalscorer in 2012 with eight goals since the turn of the year, and he was the home side's most dangerous outlet again. His first opportunity arrived in the tenth minute but Tobias Sippel saved his angled shot. The Austrian then produced an instinctive overhead kick which forced Sippel into another good save after half an hour. Kaiserslautern's first chance came in the second half when former Stuttgart midfielder Christian Tiffert shot into the side-netting, but it was still the home side who posed the greater threat. Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia sent on Cacau for Tamas Hajnal to add an extra striker for the last half-hour and the Germany international had a great opportunity to score with ten minutes left, but he was denied by Sippel in a one-on-one situation. Cacau had another chance to win it with four minutes left but his shot lacked power. Die Roten nearly stole it with Florian Dick's speculative effort only just missing the target, but the visitors will have been pleased with their point.