Bundesliga | Gameweek 22

Feb 15, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Mercedes-Benz-Arena

Stuttgart vs Wolfsburg

Match preview

The hosts had to withstand a lot of pressure against Dortmund, with 10 shots on target and just 32% of the possession, but BVB only created one real chance, while the victors had four shots on target and were ruthless in front of goal.

However, Stuttgart fans may be worried about their team's goalscoring record in recent weeks, with nine goals conceded in their last five games compared to nine in their previous 10.

Sebastian Hoeness' side are currently on course to score 63 Bundesliga goals in 2024-25, 15 fewer than they managed last season when they finished second behind Bayer Leverkusen.

The Roten currently occupy the league's Europa League qualifying spot, but only five points separate them from 10th-placed Werder Bremen, and it should be noted that their final league game of the season is against RB Leipzig in May.

Stuttgart's overall form is mixed, having won two and lost three of their last five matches, and while they have also lost two of their last three league games, they have won seven and drawn one of their last 11 in the Bundesliga.

Hoeness' men have a strong record at home, having suffered just three top-flight defeats in 23 appearances at the MHPArena, although all three have come in their last seven games at home, with the club winning the other four.

Meanwhile, the visitors held reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen to a 0-0 draw on 8 February, limiting them to two good chances and one shot on target, while Wolfsburg had eight shots on target and hit the woodwork.

The stalemate was the first time in 15 matches that the Wolves had failed to score, having found the back of the net 10 times in their previous four games.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's side drew 2-2 with Stuttgart in the league on 28 September, but the Austrian coach will be disappointed with the result as his side twice took the lead only to concede a 97th-minute equaliser despite being reduced to 10 men from the 63rd minute.

Wolfsburg are winless in their last four games, having drawn their last three, and have won just two of their last eight, conceding 14 goals in the process.

Hasenhuttl may be concerned that his side have lost two, drawn one and won just one of their last four away games, but two of those defeats came against Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, and the visitors have won six and drawn two of their 11 away games in 2024-25.

Recent Performance

Stuttgart Bundesliga form:WWWLLW

Stuttgart form (all competitions):WLLLWW

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:WWLDDD

Team News

Most of Stuttgart's injured stars are expected to return by the end of March, but Saturday's game will be too soon for defender Dan-Axel Zagadou, while Ameen Al Dakhil is a doubt.

Josha Vagnoman, Julian Chabot, Ramon Hendriks and Maximilian Mittelstadt are in contention to start at the back, but forwards El Bilal Toure, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Justin Diehl could all miss out.

Striker Deniz Undav has regularly been selected as part of a front-two and could be joined in attack by Nick Woltemade.

Wolfsburg will be without a number of players, including suspended defender Joakim Maehle, as well as Rogerio and Mads Roerslev.

With goalkeepers Kamil Grabara and Niklas Klinger also sidelined, Hasenhuttl could name a back four of Kilian Fischer, Denis Vavro, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Konstantinos Koulierakis in front of Marius Muller.

Strikers Bartosz Bialek, Jonas Wind, Kevin Paredes, Lovro Majer and Lukas Nmecha are also out through injury, so expect Mohamed El Amine Amoura to be partnered by Kevin Behrens.

Mattias Svanberg and Yannick Gerhardt are two likely candidates to feature in a double pivot with Maximilian Arnold injured.

Possible starting lineup

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Vagnoman, Chabot, Hendriks, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Muller; Fischer, Vavro, Bornauw, Koulierakis; Tomas, Svanberg, Gerhardt, Wimmer; Behrens, Amoura