The German Bundesliga is very exciting because even at the end of the regular season, the action is not done. The team which finishes 16th in the Bundesliga is still not safe from relegation and must face a two leg playoff against the team which finishes third in the 2. Bundesliga.
This season, that means a clash between Stuttgart and Union Berlin for a place in the German top-flight next season. The first leg will take place at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena on Thursday 23rd May.
Stuttgart ended the Bundesliga season with a point in a 0-0 draw at Schalke. Neither team really had anything to play for as Stuttgart could not catch the hosts and Augsburg were already too far ahead despite their heavy loss at Wolfsburg.
Trends show Stuttgart have won two of their last ten Bundesliga games and only three of the last twenty-one. It is little wonder they find themselves in this position.
They have improved defensively in recent weeks, keeping three clean sheets in their last four Bundesliga games. Stuttgart have also been difficult to beat at home, losing just one of their last six matches on home soil.
They have won each of their last two at home against Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg, two teams which are in the top half of the table. That should fill them with some confidence ahead of this match.
Union Berlin missed the chance to achieve automatic promotion to the Bundesliga on the final day of the season. They needed to defeat Bochum away from home to secure promotion but despite coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, they lost out on goal difference.
They can count themselves unfortunate having lost only five games all season in the league and conceded just 33 goals, which was the lowest in the division.
Trends show Union Berlin have failed to win any of their last four away matches, losing one and drawing three. While they have managed to score at least once in five of their last six away games, they have also conceded in the same number of matches.
Team news and Stuttgart are without the suspended Santiago Ascacibar in midfield. They also have doubts over the fitness of Andreas Beck, Erik Thommy and Steven Zuber.
Union Berlin travel with just one injury concern and Fabian Schönheim is out with a knee injury. Every other player should be fit and available for Urs Fischer.
Since their introduction to German football, the top-flight team has won eight of the ten playoffs. Stuttgart will want to make home advantage count in the first leg and could take a decent lead with them to Berlin for the second leg on Monday night.