VfB Stuttgart vs. VfL Wolfsburg preview: Fourth host fifteenth at Mercedes-Benz Arena

VfB Stuttgart (13-4-6, 4th) play host to VfL Wolfsburg (5-5-13, 15th) at Mercedes-Benz Arena in the twenty-fourth matchweek of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Kickoff is set for 15:30 (CET).

VFB STUTTGART

VfB Stuttgart (13-4-6, 4th), led by Sebastian Hoeneß, are a full ten points into a third consecutive European competition spot – and their recent record going into this match is decent, having won three of their last five matches (3-1-1) and following a victory on aggregate against Scottish side Celtic FC in the UEFA Europa League, despite losing the second leg 0-1. However, with RB Leipzig and Bayer 04 Leverkusen within six points of their fourth spot, they need every win that they can get to punch their ticket to the UEFA Champions League for 2026/27.

At 8-2-1 at home this season, Stuttgart have the third-best home record this season – compared to a Wolfsburg side that is mid-table in terms of away results (3-2-6). Die Schwaben also have the second-best shot on target conversion rate in the league (39,0%) – especially significant compared to their opposition, which are twelfth (34,1 %).

While Wolfsburg and Stuttgart are relatively even in terms of discipline throughout the season (Wolfsburg 47 yellow cards, Stuttgart 46), Hoeneß’ side are also second in terms of fouls drawn (273), while Wolfsburg are fifth from the bottom (216). Wolfsburg also have the least crosses of any team in the league (333), while Stuttgart have the third most (445).

Team News

There are only three injuries to report for VfB Stuttgart, all of which are week-to-week.

German winger/striker Justin Diehl (muscle) and French centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou (tendon) are doubtful to play this week. Serbian midfielder Lazar Jovanović (back) is also set to return to the squad at the end of the first week of March, after picking up an injury at the start of the year.

Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Nübel – Hendriks, Chabot, Jeltsch, Vagnoman – Stiller, Karazor – Leweling, Undav, El Khannouss – Demirović.

VFL WOLFSBURG

While Stuttgart are fourth from the top, it is the exact opposite for Daniel Bauer’s VfL Wolfsburg (5-5-13, 15th), who sit fourth from the bottom with eleven matches remaining.

This is the third time in the last four matches that VfL Wolfsburg are going up against a top-six side; Die Wölfe faced Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig in recent weeks, generating numerous chances but ultimately dropping five points out of a potential six due to a late winner from Serhou Guirassy and a late equaliser from Brajan Gruda.

Wolfsburg know that Stuttgart are ahead of them in so many statistical categories going into this match, but they can also look to their recent away head-to-head record as motivation – the last time that they visited Mercedes-Benz Arena, the Niedersachsen side, then coached by 57-year-old Austrian Ralph Hasenhüttl, responded to a Nick Woltemade wonder goal with a Tiago Tomás equaliser and a Mohamed Amoura penalty in the final fifteen minutes.

Speaking of Tomás, this is the second time that he faces Wolfsburg since returning to Baden-Württemberg; he scored the opening goal in the reverse match of this 2025/26 campaign, a 3-0 victory for Die Roten against Paul Simonis’ side at Volkswagen Arena in October of last year.

Team News

The list of absences for VfL Wolfsburg is now at thirteen, as for the second consecutive year, the club is dealing with an injury crisis at the beginning of March.

Danish left winger Jesper Lindstrøm (illness) and Swedish midfielder Mattias Svanberg (unknown) are both doubtful to make an appearance in the main squad or on the bench for this match. Brazilian defender Cleiton Santos (ankle), German centre-back / right-back Kilian Fischer (thigh), Danish left-back/left midfielder Joakim Mæhle (shoulder), and Danish striker Jonas Wind (hip) are all absent until the end of next week at the earliest.

German defensive midfielder / central midfielder Maximilian Arnold (groin) and American right midfielder Kevin Paredes (muscle) are both listed as absent for the next few weeks – around the same time that Jenson Seelt (knee) is set to return after picking up an injury at the end of January. Austrian goalkeeper Pavao Pervan (ankle) and Brazilian defender Rogério (unknown) are both set to return at the end of next month.

The only long-term injury remains to Hungarian midfielder Bence Dárdai (cruciate ligament), who has been absent since early November and cannot return to team training until the start of the 2026/27 season at the earliest. There is no set timetable on a return for Austrian winger/midfielder Patrick Wimmer (muscle).

Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Grabara – Belocian, Koulierakis, Jenz, Kumbedi – Gerhardt, Eriksen – Shiogai, Majer, Daghim – Amoura.