Bundesliga: Are Stuttgart on the Slide?

VfB Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig

Third plays fourth in the match of the weekend in Germany as Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig is the entertainment on offer at the AHP Arena on Saturday.

Stuttgart were the surprise package in the first half of the campaign and they sit in the Champions League places, sandwiched between the four giants, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich above, with Red Bull and Borussia Dortmund below. 

But recent results mean Stuttgart are looking over their shoulders. The hosts come into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss away to Bochum while Red Bull were beaten 3-2 at home by league leaders Leverkusen. BVB are closing in on the top four after a thumping 4-0 win over Koln last week and they are strongly fancied to finish in a Champions League place.

Which all means one of Stuttgart and Leipzig is likely to slip out.   

The latest VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig betting odds say this huge game is wide open; so let’s take a look at how the two teams are shaping up.

Talking Points

Can VfB cut it without Guirassy?

Stuttgart head coach Sebastien Hoeness has done a superb job to mould a team which has successfully gate-crashed the top table in the German league. This is by no means a one man team but the big VfB Stuttgart vs Red Bull Leipzig news concerns a key absentee which is giving the manager a serious headache.

Top scorer Serhou Guirassy is away at the African Cup of Nations with Guinea and, with 17 goals for the season, he has been one of the main reasons Stuttgart are doing so well. Guirassy’s strong running, clinical finishing and brilliant link-up play has been impressive week on week, and now his team-mates face a month without him. Last week they drew a blank against 14^th placed Bochum who registered only their fourth win of the season, and that can’t be a good sign.      

Hoeness has some fine players in creative roles including winger Chris Fuhrich who has scored five goals and made five assists, and Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Denis Undav, who has scored nine goals and is in the form of his life. They will stretch the Red Bull rearguard, but VfB’s own defence is sure to have a busy day. Stuttgart have just extended the contract of defender Pascal Stenzel until 2026, after he impressed in the three seasons since his transfer from SC Freiburg in 2020. He’s a technically excellent player and one of the club’s leaders on the pitch, and Hoeness may well line Stenzel up at the heart of defence alongside either Dan-Axel Zagadou or Josha Vagnoman.

This is a pivotal time in Stuttgart’s campaign. They finished 16^th last season and are already sure to do much better this time around; but if they slip out of the European places that would be a serious disappointment. 

Xavi and Openda have wings  

While Stuttgart have a striking problem, Marco Rose’s front line are in good shape and have scored 40 goals so far this season, with only the top two clubs scoring more. The visit of leaders Leverkusen tested Die Roten Bullen to the full and they were unlucky to finish the game empty handed. Midfielder Xavi Simons showed off his quick footwork to score the opener, his fifth goal of the campaign to add to his seven assists. And after former Burnley striker Nathan Tella netted for Bayer, striker Lois Openda scored his 11^th of the campaign when he finished off a lighting counter attack. Jonathan Tah levelled again for Leverkusen and then the league leaders snatched an injury time winner through Piero Hincapie.  

As well as Openda and Xavi, Rose can call on 20-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko who has scored seven goals in his first season following his switch from Red Bull Salzburg. At 6ft 4in Sesko is an imposing presence in the air and skilful on the ground and he’s attracted attention from clubs around Europe, notably Premier League side Newcastle United.        

History

Stuttgart are yet to beat Red Bull in 11 meetings, losing nine and drawing just two and they took a serious slapping when the two teams met in August, losing 5-1 as Leipizig scored five goals in 25 minutes with both Openda and Xavi on target.  

Leipzig come into the game with three wins, one draw and two defeats from the last six games while VfB have won two, drawn one and lost three. But Stuttgart have been very strong at home this season, winning seven, drawing one and losing one.       

Betting Tip

VfB are at SBOTOP odds of 2.69 to win and the draw is at 3.34, but I have a feeling the hosts are about to lose their second home league game this season. They are missing Guirassy and Red Bull are in good nick and, for a correct score-line I don’t think 2-1 to Leipzig, at odds of 8.87, will be wide of the mark.

 

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