Daniel Didavi’s wonder goal and Filip Kostić’s effort was enough to see off 1.FSV Mainz 05 as VfB Stuttgart cling on to their hopes of remaining in the Bundesliga.

Huub Stevens’ Stuttgart started the game four points adrift at the bottom of the Bundesliga, following Hannover 96’s 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen.

Didavi opened the scoring after picking the ball up from 35-yards before firing a shot towards Loris Karius’ goal which bounced just before the young German, picking up pace on the turf.

Kostić’s third goal of the season sealed the win for Stuttgart in the closing stages of the game, earning the Bavarian side with a much needed three points.

Stuttgart are now just one point behind SC Paderborn 07 who face VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday afternoon. The bottom placed club still have Hamburger SV and Paderborn yet to play in their remaining two fixtures.

Georg Niedermeier and Alexandru Maxim both dropped to the bench for Stuttgart following their 3-2 defeat against Schalke 04 whilst Martin Schmidt made three changes to his side that lost 1-2 to Hamburger SV. In came Nikolče Noveski, Yunus Mallı and Christoph Moritz in place of Daniel Brosinski, Elkin Soto and Koo Ja-Cheol.

Shinji Okazaki led the line for Mainz against his former side, and the Japanese international has scored almost three times the amount of goals (27) in his 62 Bundesliga games for Mainz, than he did in his 63 games for Stuttgart.

Daniel Ginczek had a sniff at goal in the opening minute but a last ditch tackle from Noveski cleared the ball out for the corner. A lapse in concentration at the back almost led to Mainz’ Jairo Samperio being through on goal, only to be pulled back by Florian Klein, who was awarded a yellow card in the opening five minutes.

An exciting start to the game led to Stuttgart almost taking the lead through Didavi, which saw his effort blocked, giving the home side their third corner in the opening stages.

Didavi forced Karius into making another save who got down low and to his right after 15 minutes after the German’s left footed drive from 20-yards almost crept inside the post.

On his return, Didavi came close to putting Stuttgart in the lead after 35 minutes. The midfielder cut inside from the right flank, before unleashing a ferocious effort from 25-yards which rebounded off the post.

It was all Stuttgart in the first half as Christian Gentner’s effort was blocked five minutes before the break before Ginczek put the rebound just wide. The 24-year old forward then had his header blocked as both teams went into the break all square.

Gentner came close to finding the opener for Stuttgart as a late run into the box gifted the German with space, but a last ditch tackle from Noveski denied the midfielder.

Kostić combined with Martin Harnik 15 minutes into the second half with the latter unable to get any real connection on the ball, following a whipped cross from Kostić.

Persistence paid off for Stuttgart and Didavi after 66 minutes as the exceptional midfielder unleashed an effort from 35-yards. The ball bounced just before Karius who perhaps should have done better.  

Substitute Pablo de Blasis almost made an instant impact for Mainz when his left footed volley his the side netting, to the relief of the Stuttgart fans.

Kostić gave Stuttgart a fighting chance for survival as he doubled Stuttgart’s lead 12 mintues from time after Ginczek and Harnik combined before laying the ball off to the Serbian, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

The result now means that Mainz are unable to qualify for Europe whilst Stuttgart look to gain ground on the teams around them. Just four points separate 18th placed Stuttgart and 13th placed Hertha Berlin with two games left to play.