The Bundesliga heats up this weekend with a thrilling showdown between Stuttgart and RB Leipzig at the MHPArena. Currently sitting in third and fourth place respectively, both teams are eager to bounce back from recent defeats.
Match Preview
Stuttgart’s title aspirations have dwindled after winning four consecutive matches earlier in the season. With just one victory in their last five Bundesliga games, they are holding onto a top-four position by a thread.
Last week, they suffered a 1-0 loss against VfL Bochum, following a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in their first game of the year.
Under Sebastian Hoeness, Stuttgart has experienced as many losses in their last four matches as they did in their first 14 games of the season.
They now find themselves 10 points behind second-placed Bayern Munich, with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund hot on their heels.
Stuttgart has been formidable at home, winning seven out of their nine Bundesliga matches at the MHPArena this season.
They have scored 26 goals and conceded only seven. However, they face a tough challenge against RB Leipzig, as they have failed to win any of their previous 11 encounters with Die Roten Bullen.
In fact, they have lost nine and drawn two, with a goal difference of 23-4. No other Bundesliga team has troubled Stuttgart as much without a victory.
RB Leipzig, on the other hand, had a strong finish to 2023 with five wins and a draw.
However, they have stumbled at the start of the new year, suffering back-to-back home defeats against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen. Last week, they lost 3-2 to Leverkusen despite leading twice in the game.
Marco Rose’s men are now holding onto fourth place by a thread, level on points with fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund.
RB Leipzig will rely on their manager’s track record against Stuttgart, as Rose has won five out of his last seven meetings with them. He has also never tasted defeat in his three previous visits to the MHPArena.
RB Leipzig’s away form has been less impressive, with only two wins in their last seven games across all competitions.
However, they will draw confidence from their dominant 5-1 victory over Stuttgart in the reverse fixture last August.
Team News:
Stuttgart will be without Lilian Egloff and Nikolas Nartey due to knee injuries. Serhou Guirassy, Silas Katompa Mvumpa, Hiroki Ito, and Jeong Woo-yeong are away on international duty.
Atakan Karazor is suspended, opening up an opportunity for either Enzo Millot or Roberto Massimo to partner Angelo Stiller in midfield.
Deniz Undav will lead the line in Guirassy’s absence, supported by Jamie Leweling and Chris Fuhrich on the wings.
RB Leipzig’s Willi Orban has returned to team training but might not feature in this game. Amadou Haidara is on international duty with Mali, and Xavi Simons is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Christoph Baumgartner is likely to start in midfield alongside Dani Olmo, while Yussuf Poulsen will aim to regain his place in the starting lineup.
Predicted Lineups:
Stuttgart: (4-2-3-1)
Nubel;
Vagnoman, Anton, Zagadou, Mittelstadt;
Massimo, Stiller;
Leweling, Millot, Fuhrich;
Undav
RB Leipzig: (4-4-2)
Blaswich;
Henrichs, Klostermann, Lukeba, Raum;
Baumgartner, Schlager, Kampl, Olmo;
Poulsen, Openda
Prediction: Stuttgart 1-2 RB Leipzig
We anticipate a closely-fought battle between two teams eager to get back to winning ways. Despite Stuttgart enjoying home advantage, RB Leipzig’s historical dominance in this fixture cannot be ignored.
Both sides will be missing key players, but Leipzig’s squad depth should give them the edge.