Holstein Kiel vs Stuttgart preview: Visitors in desperate need of win

Two sides with contrasting ambitions go head to head up north on Saturday afternoon, with VfB Stuttgart in need of three points to get their European charge back on track.

Holstein Kiel

A battling 1-0 victory against Union Berlin last time out saw the Storks lift themselves off the bottom of the table to sit 17th, a point behind the relegation playoff position.

Amin Gigovic’s strike in the 42nd minute proved decisive in Berlin on Sunday afternoon, and head coach Marcel Rapp will hope that his side are able to carry momentum into a difficult clash against Stuttgart. 

Collecting just 10 points from 12 matches at home this season, the Bundesliga debutants will cast their minds back to the last time they hosted Stuttgart in the second division in 2020. A match in which Kiel won 3-2.

Looking to take positives from the current situation, the Storks aim to cause an upset this weekend.

Team News

Doubts are cast regarding defender David Zec and goalkeeper Timon Weiner, who both sustained injuries in Köpenick last weekend. 

These injury concerns also extend to John Tolkin, Ivan Nekic and Finn Porath who are all suffering from muscle injuries. 

Alexeander Bernhardsson, Carl Johansson, Colin Kleine-Bekel and Patrick Erras are also still on the path to recovery.

Stuttgart

Die Schwaben are aiming for a league double against this weekend’s opponents after coming out as 2-1 winners at MHPArena back in October. 

Recent form for Sebastian Hoeneß’s men however, has been poor. VfB have drawn one, and lost two of their last three against Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and league leaders Bayern München in last Friday’s Südderby.

Stuttgart have since dropped to ninth, suffering from strugglers lending to their inability to hold on to leads. However despite this, Hoeneß’s side have enjoyed a positive away record having won three of their last five on the road.

This weekend’s clash is critical for the visitors ahead of big clashes against Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt before a much easier upcoming run on paper for die Schwaben.

Team News

Ramon Hendriks is expected to start at centre-back alongside Leonidas Stergiou due to the suspension of Finn Jeltsch alongside Jeff Chabot and winter arrival Luca Jaquez suffering from sickness, while Ameen Al-Dakhil is on the road to recovery after returning to training this week. 

Striker El Bilal Toure also resumed training on Mercedestraße this week. However, time will tell as to whether he is ready for a return to the squad this weekend.