Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in what could prove to be a potentially pivotal match at both ends of the Bundesliga table.
Stuttgart moved themselves out of the automatic relegation zone with a crucial victory last weekend, while Dortmund maintained the pressure on league leaders Bayern Munich.
Match preview
After making the decision to cut ties with Bruno Labbadia for the second time in the club's history, Sebastian Hoeness has made an instant impact with two wins from two matches in charge.
The former Hoffenheim boss guided Stuttgart beyond the tricky challenge of second tier outfit Nuremberg with a 1-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, before securing a vital win against fellow strugglers VfL Bochum on Sunday.
Hiroki Ito provided his side with the perfect start at Vonovia Ruhrstadion by firing the visitors into the lead after only 14 minutes, but Kevin Stoger's dispatched penalty moments before the hour mark brought the match level.
However, Serhou Guirassy - who was making his first start since returning from injury - showed his importance to Die Schwaben by rapidly restoring his side's lead two minutes later, with Josha Vagnoman's rare goal giving some breathing space until Philipp Hofmann's late consolation strike.
With Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 both defeated across the weekend, Stuttgart's second win in their 13 last matches moved them out of the bottom two positions, but they may find themselves back in serious danger before taking on Dortmund, with their two main rivals facing each other on Friday night.
© Reuters
Dortmund, meanwhile, are facing an entirely different form of pressure, as Edin Terzic aims to put the club's 11-year wait for the Bundesliga title at an end by overthrowing Bayern at the summit.
BVB's 4-2 defeat to the Bavarians in the most recent edition of Der Klassiker allowed Thomas Tuchel's side to clamber back above them to the top of the table, while Dortmund's eggs are now firmly in the Bundesliga basket after losing to another one of their former managers (Marco Rose) in the form of a 2-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
However, this Dortmund side appear to be made of sterner stuff than some of their most recent predecessors, with Youssoufa Moukoko's late winner against potential title rivals Union Berlin last weekend keeping them two points behind Bayern and firmly in the title picture at Urs Fischer's side's expense.
It remains to be seen whether Tuchel's side's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek has an adverse affect on the reigning German champions, but Dortmund may actually be ruing their rivals' seemingly imminent exit from another competition, as every distraction for Bayern would surely work in Dortmund's favour.
Terzic and his players can only focus on themselves at this stage of the season, though, while praying for a favour or two from elsewhere between now and the end of the campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Stuttgart appear to have a fully-fit squad at their disposal, meaning that Hoeness is unlikely to make any changes from the side which dispatched Bochum in a crucial relegation six-pointer last weekend.
That means the likes of Silas, Genki Haraguchi and Dan-Axel Zagadou may have to settle for appearing from the bench at best once once again, with the former Hoffenheim manager favouring a 3-5-2 system.
Dortmund, meanwhile, will travel without Julian Duranville and Mateu Morey due to thigh and knee injuries respectively, while Nico Schlotterbeck is unlikely to be rushed back from a hip issue.
Marius Wolf and Giovanni Reyna both missed out against Union Berlin due to illness and are unlikely to start here, but Mats Hummels bounced back from a nasty head injury sustained against Leipzig and will compete in Schlotterbeck's absence once again.
Terzic may be tempted to throw Moukoko in from the start after the teenager's explosive impact from the bench against Fischer's side, but he is more likely to introduce him late on again, especially if the visitors require a goal.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Bredlow; Mavropanos, Anton, Ito; Vagnoman, Endo, Karazor, Millot, Sosa; Guirassy, Führich
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Sile, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Can, Brandt; Malen, Haller, Adeyemi
We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Despite fighting against relegation, Stuttgart have very rarely been soundly beaten all season long, and we do not expect that to be any different on Saturday.
However, Dortmund have made a habit of scoring late winners under Terzic throughout the campaign, and we can envisage another one this weekend as they desperately attempt to keep pace with Bayern at the top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
