Stuttgart are set to host Eintracht Frankfurt at MHPArena on Sunday in their 10th Bundesliga game of the season.
Die Roten are in eighth place with 13 points and drew 0-0 with champions Bayer Leverkusen on November 1, while the visitors are in third place with 17 points and beat VfL Bochum 7-2 on November 2.
Match preview
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The hosts can count themselves fortunate to have come away from their clash against Leverkusen with a point considering they faced 19 shots, conceded five big chances and only produced 0.28 xG themselves.
Sebastian Hoeness's side lost 2-0 against AtalantaBC in the Champions League on Wednesday, a match in which they once again created few opportunities of genuine quality.
The result left the German club in 27th place in the Champions League table and the club would be eliminated from the competition if they were to remain in their current position, but Hoeness was defiant following the defeat against Atalanta, saying he believes the team are in a good position from which to progress.
In the Bundesliga this season, Die Roten have scored 17 goals and conceded on 16 occasions, and this makes them the league's joint fourth-best offensive and 12th best defensive club.
Though Stuttgart have failed to win their last two games, they did emerge victorious in the prior three and have lost just twice in their 10 most recent matches.
The home team's defeat against Atalanta was their first loss at MHPArena in any competition since October 2023, a period that saw them pick up 14 wins and six draws.
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As for Eintracht Frankfurt, they were leading 4-0 after just 32 minutes against Bochum and had six different goalscorers, demolishing the Bundesliga's last-placed club.
It should be noted that while the Eagles created six big chances they also faced four big chances, but perhaps their defensive frailty can be excused by the fact the game was all but won after half an hour.
Manager Dino Toppmoller's side beat Slavia Prague 1-0 on Thursday in their fourth Europa League match of the 2024-25 campaign, winning thanks to a 53rd-minute free kick from Omar Marmoush.
Toppmoller's team are fourth in the Europa League table with 10 points and currently occupy an automatic qualification spot for the round of 16.
The Eagles are in good form having won four of their five most recent games, and they have in fact lost just two times in 15 matches this term.
Eintracht Frankfurt have not necessarily been poor away from home, but they have been more vulnerable on the road considering they have been beaten twice and drawn once in their seven away fixtures.
Team News
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Stuttgart will have to contend with the absence of defender Dan-Axel Zagadou until February 2025, so expect Josha Vagnoman, Anthony Rouault, Julian Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstadt to start in defence.
Striker Deniz Undav is a doubt but should be declared fit, though forwards Jamie Leweling, Justin Diehl and Luca Raimund are ruled out.
Hoeness is likely to pair Undav with El Bilal Toure, while Enzo Millot and Chris Fuhrich could flank the strikers.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without centre-back Arthur Theate until early December, as well as right-back Rasmus Kristensen until late November.
Eintracht could line up with a defence consisting of Nnamdi Collins, Tuta, Robin Koch and Aurele Amenda.
Midfielder Oscar Hojlund is also unavailable as a result of a broken ankle that should keep him out of action until December, and Toppmoller may field Mahmoud Dahoud and Ellyes Skhiri in a double pivot.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Toure, Undav
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Collins, Tuta, Koch, Amenda; Knauff, Dahoud, Skhiri, Nkounkou; Marmoush, Ekitike
We say: Stuttgart 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
While it is hard to overlook Stuttgart's exceptional home form, the visitors have proven difficult to beat this season.
It would not be surprising if both sides had several chances and shared the spoils in an entertaining stalemate on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
