Seven up for Nurnberg

New Nurnberg boss Gertjan Verbeek saw his side pick up a seventh draw in 10 games after a 1-1 stalemate at Stuttgart.

New Nurnberg boss Gertjan Verbeek saw his new troops pick up a seventh draw in 10 Bundesliga games after a 1-1 stalemate at Stuttgart. Josip Drmic cancelled out Vedad Ibisevic's early penalty to earn a 1-1 draw and make sure of a promising start to Verbeek's reign. The result still leaves the Bavarians inside the bottom three, but there were plenty of positive signs for the new coach. Stuttgart, meanwhile, missed the chance to move to fourth, although the point did take them into the top six ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures. The hosts were given an early chance to take the lead when Alexandru Maxim was bundled down by Niklas Stark as he entered the area and a penalty was awarded. Ibisevic stepped up to strike the ball into the top left-hand corner of the goal and give the hosts a flying start. Their lead lasted just three minutes, though, before Robert Mak sent Drmic through on goal, and he curled an effort past Sven Ulreich with the outside of his boot. The ball struck the far post and rebounded across the goal to hit the other post on its way into the net. Martin Harnik then missed chances to put Stuttgart in front again with Raphael Schafer first saving with his leg before, on the stroke of half-time, the Austrian forward headed wide from five yards out with the goal gaping. Nurnberg also had a chance to take the lead midway through the half when Hiroshi Kiyotake sent the ball into the path of Drmic, who tried to nudge it past goalkeeper Ulreich, but did not get enough power on the ball. Ibrahim Traore went close with a cross which looped over Schafer and hit the far post while Ibisevic tried an overhead kick from a tight angle - but failed to find the target. Harnik was denied again by Schafer midway through the second half while Ulreich denied Kiyotake as chances came and went at both ends. Daniel Ginczek nearly beat Ulreich before Maxim wasted the best chance in stoppage time when he chose to pass rather than shoot from five yards out.