Stuttgart
- Stuttgart and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will face off in a crucial match for a European berth when they meet at the MHPArena on Saturday afternoon, with both teams in the Bundesliga’s top seven after 14 matches and in with a chance to push into the top four or five with a win before the winter break.
- With both sides in good shape, we expect an open, exciting matchup featuring goals at both ends.
- Stuttgart will set up to dominate this matchup with their possession and pressing, but there will also be times when they sit in and allow the game to open up.
Hoffenheim
- That pattern could well be repeated at the MHPArena, where Hoffenheim will no doubt bring the pressure and pressing game that has made them a tough nut to crack under Ilzer’s stewardship.
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Recent form:
- Hoffenheim have won, lost, won, drawn and won their last five competitive games.
- That sequence included a 4-1 thumping of Hamburg at home.
- In that time, Ilzer’s men have scored at least three goals in three of the contests.
- Hoffenheim have some talented players, but they are a team, first and foremost, built around the high work rate and intelligent pressing of the collective, especially in the front three.
Head-to-Head
- Stuttgart and Hoffenheim have shared the Bundesliga spoils in their last two meetings, 1-1.
- Spoils have been shared in 11 of Stuttgart’s 32 all-competition meetings with Hoffenheim, with the VfB holding a 13-8 edge in wins from those fixtures.
Key Players
- Deniz Undav is Stuttgart’s in-form goalscorer, after his recent hat-trick at Dortmund.
- Fisnik Asllani, who is among Hoffenheim's top scorers this season, should be involved up front for the visitors, who will look to put pressure on Stuttgart’s full-backs and stretch the hosts’ defense with his energy.
- Andrej Kramarić is the orchestrator, dropping deep to create space and chances for his teammates and driving play forwards in transition, while Hoffenheim are relentless in their attempts to win the ball back.
- Jamie Leweling and Nick Woltemade provide Stuttgart’s pace and creativity from wide areas, but Hoeneß has used the German duo as second strikers, where both have found the net in December.
- Stuttgart’s recent displays have been polarizing, with Alexander Nübel’s experience in goal essential to counterbalance the defensive frailties they have shown against top-quality opposition.
Betting Insights
- We’ll take the Over 2.5 goals option at 1.43, which looks a ripoff given the recent goal returns of both teams.
- Stuttgart are rated favorites at 2.01, with the visitors available at 3.7 and the draw 4.03, which doesn’t seem right given the home side’s edge in this fixture.
Prediction
With both of these sides’ best offensive threats fit and in the goals this month, we’re expecting an open, end-to-end game with plenty of drama at both goalmouths.
