Hamburger SV vs. VfB Stuttgart preview: Champions League-chasing visitors head to struggling HSV

Volksparkstadion hosts two sides with contrasting ambitions on Sunday as relegation-threatened Hamburg look to halt their slide, while in-form Stuttgart continue their push for the Champions League places.

Hamburg

After a bright period, HSV have slipped into worrying form. Their 1-0 defeat to Augsburg on November 22 typified recent struggles in the final third, with Merlin Polzin’s side managing just one big chance despite firing 12 shots from inside the box.

That loss extended their winless run to three matches, with two defeats in that period, and they had also lost twice in the three games beforehand. Goals have dried up – just three in their last five league outings – and they’ve failed to score in two of those fixtures while keeping only one clean sheet.

A victory on Sunday would be their first against Stuttgart in five attempts and would snap a four-match losing streak in this fixture, with their last meeting being the 2023 relegation play-off. 

Their recent home form is mixed: one loss and one draw in their last two, but before that, they recorded back-to-back wins on home soil.

Team News

HSV remain without defender Warmed Omari due to an ankle problem, leaving Nicolas Capaldo, Luka Vuskovic and Jordan Torunarigha likely to form the back three. 

Ransford Königsdörffer may lead the line with Yussuf Poulsen doubtful.

Predicted lineup – 3-4-2-1: Fernandes – Capaldo, Vuskovic, Torunarigha – Gocholeishvili, Sambi, Remberg, Muheim – Viera, Dompe – Königsdörffer

Stuttgart

Sebastian Hoeneß’s men showed resilience last weekend, battling back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to draw 3-3 at Borussia Dortmund thanks to a stunning second-half hat-trick from Deniz Undav. They sit fifth with 22 points, level with fourth-placed BVB and only four points from second-place.

Momentum is firmly on their side. A commanding 4-0 Europa League win over Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday extended their unbeaten run to four matches, during which they have scored 12 goals. 

Undav is in fantastic form, while Bilal El Khannouss and Jamie Leweling continue to star, with the latter scoring twice in Deventer on Thursday. 

Team news

Stuttgart are still without striker Ermedin Demirović, but Undav’s red-hot form eases that blow. Angelo Stiller, arguably the standout performer of their season, will once again anchor midfield.

Dan-Axel Zagadou remains sidelined with a muscle issue, meaning Finn Jeltsch and Jeff Chabot are expected to partner at centre-back. Chris Führich could start out wide for VfB after missing out on a start in Europe.

Predicted lineup – 4-2-3-1: Nübel – Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt – Chema, Stiller – Leweling, El Khannouss, Führich – Undav