After both sides struggled through February with just a handful of Bundesliga points between them, second-bottom Stuttgart and underachieving Borussia Monchengladbach meet on Saturday evening.

While the hosts are deep in the relegation mire following nine games without a win, Gladbach have continued to stutter since starting the year with a shock win over Bayern Munich.

Match preview

© Reuters

Having picked up an increasingly rare point a week previously against Bochum, in their most recent outing Stuttgart were unable to hold onto a lead during the final minutes at Hoffenheim, and returned home empty-handed.

The hosts' Christoph Baumgartner scored twice in the final five minutes as their local rivals came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory; leaving Stuttgart in the bottom two - three points adrift of Augsburg in 15th, which is the first spot that guarantees safety.

As a result of their late capitulation in Sinsheim, Pellegrino Matarazzo's side have gone winless in nine straight league matches for the first time since 2016 - the longest such run of any Bundesliga team.

Indeed, a modest tally of 19 points from 24 fixtures represents the Swabians' joint-lowest total at this stage of a top-flight campaign, and only three years ago - when they were ultimately relegated at the end of the season - have they ever before failed to surpass that mark.

The new year has certainly not been kind to Die Roten either, as they have accumulated the equal-lowest number of points in the second half of the season and only Hertha have scored fewer goals than Matarazzo's men, who have netted just six times in 2022.

Even a return home to the Mercedes-Benz Arena this week will provide little comfort, as they average only a point per game at their headquarters this term - the lowest in the league.

Stuttgart have not lost any of their last three Bundesliga home games against Saturday's opponents, though, as part of an unbeaten run of four league matches against them.

© Reuters

Substitute striker Breel Embolo came off the bench to salvage a point for Gladbach last week, as they came from 2-0 down at home to fellow mid-table side Wolfsburg, who were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes to play.

After Embolo headed in at the far post in the 82nd minute, Adi Hutter's team - who, incidentally, have scored five of their last six goals with headers - thought they had sealed victory when Matthias Ginter apparently netted a third during stoppage time, but the 'goal' was ruled out for a foul in its build-up.

As a result, Wolfsburg remain a point ahead of Gladbach, who have continued to slide down the standings and sit 13th - just four places clear of Stuttgart and still in danger of being dragged into the relegation playoff place.

Just 27 points after 24 Bundesliga games represents Die Fohlen's fewest at this stage of a season since 2011, when they were involved in the promotion/demotion playoffs, so Hutter is under increasing pressure to turn things around - particularly as his side have also won only one of their last six top-flight matches.

Following their 6-0 thumping at Dortmund a fortnight ago, only Hertha have conceded more goals in the second half of the season than Gladbach's 16, so it is clear where their main problems lie.

Ahead of the trip to Swabia, they have taken a mere nine points from 12 away games - the club's worst haul on the road since the 2009-10 campaign - and have conceded at least once in 16 successive away fixtures, so neither form nor precedent is on their side.

Team News

© Reuters

Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo can welcome back the highly-rated Borna Sosa to his squad on Saturday, and the Croatian international is expected to take the place of Chris Fuhrich on the left side of the hosts' midfield.

While they will not be able to call upon Nikolas Nartey (knee), Mohamed Sankoh (knee), Silas (shoulder), Pascal Stenzel (calf) due to injury, Die Roten can turn to imposing striker Sasa Kalajdzic up front, after he made an impact as a half-time substitute last weekend.

The Austrian headed on a corner for captain Wataru Endo to score his first Bundesliga goal since the opening weekend - ending a 22-match drought - and both should start, with on-loan Sporting starlet Tiago Tomas dropping out.

Meanwhile, Gladbach have Jordan Beyer suspended due to yellow card accumulation, and both Mamadou Doucoure (muscular) and Lars Stindl (knee) are sidelined by injury. January signing Marvin Friedrich is hopeful of overcoming flu to participate, though.

Up front, Marcus Thuram finally found his first goal of the campaign last time out - ending a run of 15 Bundesliga games without one - and his countryman Alassane Plea, who set up both goals in the 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg, is also set to feature. Breel Embolo should start on the bench.

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Muller; Massimo, Anton, Mavropanos, Ito; Karazor; Marmoush, Endo, Mangala, Sosa; Kalajdzic

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Lainer, Neuhaus, Kone, Scally; Hofmann, Thuram; Plea

We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach

Gladbach can be expected to prolong their hosts' agony, as the trapdoor back to 2. Bundesliga looms ever closer for Stuttgart.

With their forwards finally springing into life to save a point last weekend, the visitors can make their greater individual quality pay in the final third and pull themselves closer to mid-table respectability.

Previews by email