Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena.
Sebastian Hoeness's men suffered a third top-flight loss of 2024-25 before the hiatus, and they face a tricky encounter against a side managed by the freshly appointed Dieter Hecking.
Match preview
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Stuttgart have not followed up on last year's runners-up finish, emphasised by Hoeness's men sitting outside the top half after 10 games, with the previous round's 3-2 home loss against Eintracht Frankfurt ending a year-long run without losing in front of their supporters.
Chris Fuhrich had a 98th-minute equaliser ruled out as Stuttgart nearly fought back from 3-0 down to escape with a draw last time out but must regroup after losing their extended 16-game unbeaten Bundesliga run at the MHPArena.
Despite their slow start to the season, a mere four points separate Stuttgart from a top-four position in the league, with Bayer Leverkusen and Frankfurt currently occupying fourth place with 17 points.
Although the deficit is not unassailable, the club in 11th must find their feet swiftly to avoid falling further behind in the race to end in the Champions League positions.
They have history in this fixture on their side, having avoided losing in 25 competitive home fixtures against this weekend's opponents, claiming 18 wins and playing out seven draws, and they hope to preserve that 37-year record by recording another positive result in Baden-Wurttemberg.
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Bochum's ambition to secure maximum points at Stuttgart for the first time since a 4-2 win in May 1987 could be aided by a recent managerial change, with Hecking now in situ after Peter Zeidler was dismissed and Markus Feldhoff and Murat Ural completed their interim spell.
The Blues were the first club to change head coach this term, an understandable decision given the bottom club's wretched start to the campaign.
Without a win in their opening 10 fixtures, Bochum's start is the worst in the club's history, even if they secured a creditable draw against Bayer Leverkusen in Hecking's first game in charge before the hiatus.
The 60-year-old boss has 12 wins against Stuttgart in his managerial career, more than any other team, and hopes the point from round 10 stands his side in good stead when they travel to BaWu.
Given Die Blauen are six points from St. Pauli in the relegation playoff spot and seven shy of Hoffenheim in 15th, the only winless club in the German top flight must start picking up victories to have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.
Team News
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Stuttgart will be without their top scorer in all competitions Denis Undav due to a thigh injury, effectively ruling out the forward until next year.
Also absent for the hosts are Jamie Leweling (hamstring), Luca Raimund (thigh), El Bilal Toure (foot) and Dan-Axel Zagadou (ligament).
With Undav anticipated to be out until 2025, Ermedin Demirovic (five goals) must step up until the German's return.
Although Bernardo is doubtful because of a knee issue, Bochum will be without Myron Boadu owing to a hip problem.
Koji Miyoshi netted his first goal for the club to salvage an unexpected draw against the defending league champions and is pushing for a fourth league start this weekend.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Rieder, Millot, Fuhrich; Demirovic
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Drewes; Passlack, Oermann, Medic, Wittek; Bero, Losilla, Sissoko; Broschinski, Hofmann, Holtmann
We say: Stuttgart 2-1 VfL Bochum
Having lost consecutive home games in all competitions, we back Stuttgart to return to winning ways when they welcome a Bochum side they historically fare well against, thus putting aside their underwhelming start by returning into the league's top half.
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