Stuttgart and Hannover endured poor campaigns in the Bundesliga last season both suffering relegation to the second tier of the German game. The pair meet on Friday night at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena in their opening 2. Bundesliga game of the season.
Stuttgart finished in the relegation play-off spot last season, only to suffer an away goal defeat against Union Berlin.
Despite their status as a historic club in German football, their last spell in the second tier was not long ago. In fact, it was in the 2016/17 season.
The home side won promotion that campaign by winning six of their last seven league outings. Their home form will once again be key to a quick return to the Bundesliga, as in their last spell in the 2. Bundesliga, they recorded wins in seven of their last nine matches of the campaign.
Stuttgart have found Hannover difficult opponents in recent meetings, as the home side has beaten the visitors just once in the last seven matches between the pair, with Hannover claiming four wins. However, the one win was the last time the two teams met.
Hannover finished 17th in the Bundesliga last season to suffer relegation to the German second tier. Just like Stuttgart, their last campaign in the 2. Bundesliga was back in season 2016/17 when they also won promotion back to the top-flight.
Hannover finished their last campaign in the German second tier with an 11-game unbeaten run, which ensured a return to the Bundesliga. They also kept clean in nine of those undefeated games. Their defensive record was nowhere that strong in the top-flight.
The visitors were not great away from home in their last spell in the second tier, as they recorded just one win on their travels in their last six outings.
Both teams will want to kick-off their campaigns in the 2. Bundesliga with a victory. However, Forebet predicts that the home side will record a win in a low-scoring encounter.