There was plenty of intensity on display from the very start, and that resulted in a fifth-minute opener for Die Adler as Rasmus Kristensen’s header looped over Alexander Nubel from a corner.
Arthur Theate then had to deal with a threatening Angelo Stiller set-piece at the other end, before Jeff Chabot beat Younes Ebnoutalib to a lax pass to ensure the hosts’ situation didn’t get any worse.
That ultimately ended Ebnoutalib’s game, though, as he had to be replaced shortly after just 20 minutes into his second appearance for the club.
Further disappointment followed for the visitors seven minutes later, when Kaua Santos dropped Maximilian Mittelstadt’s cross and was punished by Ermedin Demirovic's instinctive finish into the vacant net.
Jamie Leweling was then released but denied by Santos, and Chris Fuhrich saw a shot blocked with Die Schwaben visibly buoyed by the leveller.
There was yet more reason for the hosts to celebrate in the 35th minute, as Deniz Undav turned away from Oscar Hojlund and hit a shot that nestled inside the far post via a deflection.
The second half started with as much ferocity as the first. Undav fired off the half’s maiden attempt, having a shot blocked, before Ritsu Doan was denied by Nubel.
Both teams subsequently went agonisingly close shortly before the hour mark; Fuhrich and Undav sent an attempt apiece marginally wide either side of Ansgar Knauff’s venomous strike cannoning off the crossbar at the other end.
Fuhrich then played Undav in with a wonderful pass, but Santos rushed out to stop him prior to Chabot heading wide from the ensuing corner.
Stuttgart were seemingly made to pay for their missed chances when substitute Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyabe, on for his Bundesliga debut, picked out the bottom corner with a cool finish just three minutes later.
Nevertheless, his limelight was stolen by Nikolas Nartey in the 88th minute as he converted inside the area for his own opening Bundesliga strike.
Nübel then denied Arnaud Kalimuendo towards the game’s climax to secure a fourth win for Stuttgart in their last five competitive matches, moving them up to third temporarily in the process. They also inflicted a first defeat on Frankfurt in their last four matches, denying Dino Toppmoller’s men a place in the top six to boot.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart)
