One of the surprise packages of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season can clinch Champions League football if results go their way this weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, VfB Stuttgart welcome Bayern Munich to the MHPArena, with the hosts sitting seven points inside the top four and five points behind the visitors.
In this preview, we cover all the key stats, trends and analysis. Read on to find out what Forebet’s predictive analytics model forecasts for Saturday’s showdown.
Last weekend, Stuttgart came agonizingly close to ending Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten campaign, only for the newly-crowned champions to equalise in the 96th minute.
The Reds found themselves 2-0 up against Xabi Alonso’s side with only a third of the match remaining, but they ended up drawing 2-2 at BayArena.
Still, Stuttgart have lost just one of their last 13 Bundesliga clashes, picking up nine wins and three draws to remain in control of their Champions League dreams.
It is also worth noting that Stuttgart have suffered a solitary defeat in 15 home league games this season, notching 11 victories at the MHPArena.
On Tuesday, Bayern Munich played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final showdown.
Quick-fire goals from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane saw Bayern take a 2-1 lead before the hour mark, but Vinicius Junior completed his brace from the penalty spot on 83 minutes.
In the Bundesliga, Thomas Tuchel’s side have won each of their last three matches, with five victories coming in their previous seven encounters.
However, Bayern have struggled for consistency on the road of late, recording four wins, one draw and four losses in their last nine away league outings.
Head-to-head: Stuttgart’s last Bundesliga victory over Bayern came back in 2018. Since then, Bayern have won seven of the nine meetings between the teams.
Given that each of the previous 10 league meetings have produced over 2.5 goals, Saturday’s showdown will likely be a high-scoring affair.
Team news: Stuttgart’s injury list features Roberto Massimo, Nikolas Nartey, Josha Vagnoman, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Samuele di Benedetto.
Bayern Munich also have multiple injury absentees, with Kingsley Coman, Matthijs de Ligt, Bouna Sarr, Gabriel Marusic, Tarek Buchmann and Sacha Boey on the sidelines.
Of course, Stuttgart will be eager to get one over on Bayern. But Tuchel’s men are expected to flex their muscles at the MHPArena.
Forebet predicts that Stuttgart and Bayern Munich will combine for over 3.5 goals. However, the visitors are expected to score over 2.5 goals en route to victory.