Stuttgart vs Borussia Mönchengladbach preview
Stuttgart will hope they can pick up their first win of 2022, when they face Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening.
For Gladbach, they will be hoping to claim a third away league victory as they bid to move away from danger.
For Gladbach, they will be hoping to claim a third away league victory as they bid to move away from danger.
| Pellegrino Matarazzo. |
Stuttgart
Games are running out for Stuttgart, who head into the weekend in the Bundesliga relegation zone. With four points separating them from the relegation playoff place, Saturday’s hosts are in desperate need of victories.
Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side are winless in their last nine matches, with their last win coming against Wolfsburg on December 11. Although they have rediscovered their goalscoring touch in their last four outings, they have failed to offer much resistance in the defensive third, conceding ten goals in those four matches.
Their hopes of survival were dealt a blow last weekend, when they squandered a one-goal lead against Hoffenheim. Stuttgart headed into the final stages with the advantage thanks to Wataru Endo’s opener, but Christoph Baumgartner levelled five minutes from time before he snatched all three points for Hoffenheim with a 90th-minute winner.
Despite losing in demoralising circumstances, Stuttgart cannot afford to dwell on that defeat, although another loss on Saturday would only further damage their chances of beating the drop.
Injuries have been an issue for Stuttgart this term, and they have a number of absentees to contend with ahead of Saturday’s contest. Nikolas Nartey, Mohamed Sankoh, Silas and Pascal Stenzel all out injured for the hosts, while Orel Mangala is a doubt after picking up a knock last weekend.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Adi Hütter’s first season in charge of Gladbach has not gone to plan as they head into the final ten matches, just four points above the relegation playoff.
They have at the very least shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, losing once in their last three games. Hütter’s men will also be buoyed by their comeback last weekend, as Gladbach came from two goals down against Wolfsburg to clinch a point.
Although, previous away form will not offer much encouragement, with Gladbach winning just once in their last nine away matches in all competitions. Hütter will be concerned that in their previous six away league games, Gladbach have shipped 17 goals. However, they have also struggled in the final third on their travels, scoring more than one goal in just two of their 12 away league games.
Lars Stindl, Mamadou Doucouré, Marvin Friedrich are all absent for the visitors, while Jordan Beyer will miss the game through suspension.
