Stuttgart vs. Union Berlin preview: Hosts looking to extend unbeaten run
Stuttgart will have the chance to make it seven league matches without defeat when they play host to Union Berlin on Friday evening.
| Photo: Jeollo, VfB-exklusiv.de, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Stuttgart
Third-placed Stuttgart are well set to qualify for next season’s Champions League after collecting 50 points from their 24 league matches. Die Schwaben currently enjoy a six-point gap to Borussia Dortmund in fourth spot and a seven-point cushion to RB Leipzig in fifth position.
Impressively, Sebastian Hoeneß has seen his side drop just two points in their last six league games since losing to Bochum on January 20. They recorded five consecutive Bundesliga victories, before they were held to a 1-1 draw by Köln. Stuttgart ultimately returned to winning ways in last Saturday’s away game against Wolfsburg, with Serhou Guirassy netting a brace and Josha Vagnoman finding the net to guide their team to a narrow 3-2 victory.
After recording a third consecutive away league win, Stuttgart will now return to the MHPArena, where they have put together a nine-game unbeaten home run in all competitions (W7, L2). Incidentally, that impressive spell of home form began with a 1-0 victory over Union in the DFB-Pokal.
Team News
Stuttgart are likely to be without the services of Waldemar Anton, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Roberto Massimo, Samuele di Benedetto and Nikolas Nartey. Meanwhile, Genki Haraguchi is a doubt due to illness.
Union Berlin
Union saw their four-game unbeaten run come to an end in last Saturday’s home game against Borussia Dortmund. Karim Adeyemi and Ian Maatsen grabbed a goal apiece to condemn Union to their first home league defeat of the Nenad Bjelica era.
Despite falling to defeat last weekend, Union still enjoy a healthy gap to the bottom three with eight points separating them from Köln in the relegation playoff spot. However, Union can ill afford to rest on their laurels, and they will be keen to return to winning ways in Friday’s trip to the MHPArena. The visitors will be looking to record consecutive away league wins for the first time since January/February 2023.
They will also be hoping to produce a strong offensive display, having scored just nine goals across their 12 Bundesliga away matches this season. They have also failed to find the net in six of their last eight road trips in the top flight.
Team News
Union have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Friday’s contest. The visitors are able to welcome back Robin Gosens, who missed the defeat to Dortmund through suspension.