Stuttgart, who capped off the previous Bundesliga season in strong standing, is aiming to replicate that success this Saturday at MHPArena as they host newcomers Holstein Kiel. The team will look to capitalize on home advantage and a favorable head-to-head history to secure a crucial three points, eyeing eighth place on the Bundesliga table.
Currently, Stuttgart sits in tenth place with nine points after a disappointing 4-0 defeat by Bayern Munich last Saturday. In contrast, Holstein Kiel has struggled to find their footing in the Bundesliga and remains second from the bottom with just two points, following their 2-0 loss to Union Berlin on October 20.
The recent defeat against Bayern highlighted Stuttgart’s challenges, especially in the second half, where Bayern, led by Vincent Kompany, capitalized on Stuttgart's defensive lapses. The Bavarians struck four times, with Harry Kane netting a hat-trick, a performance that underscored Bayern’s attacking prowess. Bayern registered 22 shots with 16 from within the penalty area, compared to Stuttgart’s meager four shots, just one of which was on target.
In his post-match reflections, Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeness remarked that his team was competitive until the 60th minute. However, he pointed out a missed opportunity by Josha Vagnoman in the 54th minute, a turning point when the score was still level. Despite the league setback, Hoeness found some solace as Stuttgart narrowly defeated Juventus 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, with El Bilal Toure’s late goal securing the victory.
Stuttgart's Bundesliga performance, however, has been a mixed bag; they have now gone three games without a win, conceding seven goals and scoring only three in return. Additionally, Die Roten have failed to secure a clean sheet in their last seven league outings, a trend they’ll aim to reverse this weekend. Nevertheless, Stuttgart has been a force at home, maintaining an impressive 15-match unbeaten streak in Bundesliga home games, with 10 wins and five draws.
Holstein Kiel, on the other hand, faced Union Berlin with a respectable xG performance, firing five shots compared to Union’s four. However, their struggle to finish chances cost them yet another loss. Despite these setbacks, manager Marcel Rapp expressed optimism, noting that his team is inching closer to their first Bundesliga victory.
Kiel’s difficulties on both ends of the field are apparent; they rank among the league's weakest in both offense and defense, with just nine goals scored and 21 conceded. Their record this season includes three initial losses, two draws, and two more defeats in their subsequent four matches, leaving them still searching for that elusive first Bundesliga win.