Stuttgart will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to seven matches when they welcome Union Berlin to the MHPArena on Friday night.
The hosts are third in the table, four points behind second-placed Bayern Munich, while Union Berlin occupy 14th position, eight points clear of 16th-placed FC Koln.
Match preview
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Stuttgart have finished 15th and 16th in their last two Bundesliga campaigns, while they have not claimed a top-three finish in Germany's top flight since 2008-09, but an excellent season has left Die Roten in third, boasting 50 points from their 24 league matches in 2023-24.
Sebastian Hoeness's side have won 16, drawn two and lost six of their 24 league games this term, and they will bring a six-match unbeaten run in Germany's top flight into this contest.
Stuttgart have won five and drawn one of their last six Bundesliga fixtures, including a 3-2 success over Wolfsburg last time out.
The Reds have been impressive on home soil this season, picking up 29 points from 12 matches, and they will be welcoming a Union Berlin outfit that have won just twice on their travels in the league in 2023-24.
Stuttgart recorded a 3-0 victory when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match back in October, but Union Berlin have triumphed in two of their last three Bundesliga fixtures.
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Union Berlin finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, but there has been a big drop-off this season, with the team currently down in 14th position in the table.
The Iron Ones boast a record of seven wins, four draws and 13 defeats from their 24 league matches this season to collect 25 points, which has left them eight points ahead of 17th-placed FC Koln.
Nenad Bjelica was brought in as head coach due to the team's struggles in the opening months of the 2023-24 campaign, and he boasts a record of five wins, four draws and five defeats from his 14 games at the helm.
Union Berlin will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund, but they had been on a four-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ahead of the clash with BVB.
The capital outfit have struggled for goals this season, only finding the back of the net on 23 occasions, which is the third-worst attacking record in the Bundesliga, and they will be taking on a Stuttgart outfit that have netted 55 times in their 24 league games this term.
Team News
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Stuttgart will be without the services of four first-team players for this match, with Roberto Massimo, Samuel di Benedetto, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Nikolas Nartey unavailable for selection.
Meanwhile, Genki Haraguchi will need to be assessed, as he bids to recover from an illness.
The in-demand Serhou Guirassy has scored 20 times in the Bundesliga during the 2023-24 campaign, and he will again lead the Stuttgart line on Friday, while Enzo Millot should also keep his spot out wide.
As for Union Berlin, Oluwaseun Ogbemudia remains an injury doubt, but Robin Gosens will be back for the visitors on Friday evening, having served a suspension.
There are not expected to be any real surprises in the away side's XI here, with a 3-5-2 formation set to include Rani Khedira in central midfield.
Kevin Volland has only managed two Bundesliga goals this season but will again feature in the final third of the field, and there should also be another start for Benedict Hollerbach.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Rouault, Anton, Ito; Vagnoman, Karazor, Stiller, Mittelstadt; Millot, Guirassy, Fuhrich
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Leite, Vogt; Juranovic, Tousart, Khedira, Schafer, Gosens; Volland, Hollerbach
We say: Stuttgart 2-0 Union Berlin
Union Berlin have only lost one of their last five Bundesliga matches, but they will be coming up against a Stuttgart side in excellent form. The hosts are winning a lot of games at the moment, and we are expecting them to put another three points on the board on Friday night in routine fashion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
