VfB Stuttgart will host Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga this weekend, looking to bounce back from their run of defeats.
VfB Stuttgart are coming into the game against Borussia Dortmund on the back of consecutive defeats in the Bundesliga, and they will look to bounce back strongly. They are third in the league table and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a positive result at home.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are level on points with Stuttgart, and they are fourth in the league table on goal difference. They have failed to win their last two league matches as well and were beaten by Bayern Munich comprehensively in their last league outing.
Borussia Dortmund have an exceptional head-to-head record against Stuttgart, and it remains to be seen whether they can bounce back strongly with a morale-boosting win away from home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Spotted 📸 pic.twitter.com/wfaRXhqXdK
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) November 9, 2023
Team News and Tactics
VfB Stuttgart
The home side will be without the services of Nikolas Nartey, who has undergone knee surgery and he will be ruled out for the remainder of the year. The home side will likely shape up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Alexander Nubel in goal.
Anthony Rouault and Hiroki Ito will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to protect the central defence and help out during counterattacks. Waldemar Anton and Dan-Axel Zagadou will start as the central defenders here.
Silas Mvumpa and Chris Fuhrich will start as the wing-backs here and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Enzo Millot will start alongside Atakan Karazor and Angelo Stiller at the heart of the midfield. The three players will look to add creativity and defensive cover to the midfield. Deniz Undav will lead the line for Stuttgart.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Nubel; Rouault, Zagadou, Anton, Ito; Silas, Karazor, Millot, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav
Borussia Dortmund
The away side will be without Julien Duranville, who is ruled out with a muscle injury. They are expected to start in their usual 4-1-3-2 formation, with Gregor Kobel in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Ramy Bensebaini will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out in the offence apart from their defensive responsibilities will stop Mats Hummels will start in the central defence alongside Nico Schlotterbeck.
Felix Nmecha will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to protect the central defenders and break up the opposition attacks. Marco Reus, Marcel Sabitzer and Giovanni Reyna will start as the advanced midfielders. The trio will look to add creativity and control in the final third. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for Dortmund alongside Donyell Malen.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Nmecha; Reus, Sabitzer, Reyna; Fullkrug, Malen
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund are undefeated in 21 of their last 23 matches against VfB Stuttgart in all competitions.
- 27 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Stuttgart have picked up four wins from their last six league matches.
- Dortmund have picked up four wins from their last six league matches.
- Four of the last six meetings between the two sides have seen both teams score.
Key player
Marco Reus
The 34-year-old will look to affect the game in the final third with his creativity and goalscoring ability. Reus has three goals and an assist in seven starts in the Bundesliga this season, and he will help Borussia Dortmund break down the Stuttgart defence.
The former German international is versatile enough to operate as the central attacking midfielder as well as a winger. He is likely to drift into a variety of positions and link up with the midfield and the attack.
Prediction
VfB Stuttgart 1-2 Borussia dortmund
The visitors are certainly the better team on paper. And despite the fact that they are fourth in the Bundesliga table, Edin Terzic and his charges will be expected to grind out a victory against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Stuttgart are third in the standings, but they have been quite poor in their last two league matches. In addition, they have a disastrous head-to-head record against Borussia Dortmund. The visitors are unbeaten in five of their last six meetings against Stuttgart, and they are likely to extend that run here. A narrow win for the away side is on the cards.