European Success Amidst Domestic Difficulties
VfB Stuttgart has presented a striking contrast in their performances this season, demonstrating strong form in the UEFA Champions League while simultaneously enduring a challenging run in the Bundesliga. The German side remains unbeaten in their European campaign, accumulating seven points from three matches, including a recent 1-1 draw at home against ten-man Atlético Madrid [1]. Jamie Leweling scored for Stuttgart in the first half of that encounter, with Julián Álvarez equalizing for Atlético. This European success has seen Stuttgart emerge as a surprise package, with key players like Leweling, Bilal El Khannouss, and Deniz Undav showcasing their talent on the continental stage [2]. However, this strong European showing is juxtaposed with a difficult domestic spell, where the team has lost four of their last six Bundesliga matches [3].
Key Absences and Emerging Talents
The squad faces a significant setback with the injury to Josha Vagnoman, who will be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining an injury against Atlético Madrid [4]. Vagnoman has been a crucial player for VfB Stuttgart, serving as an absolute regular starter and the team’s best goalscorer in the Bundesliga this season, making his absence a considerable blow [4]. In other team news, Ermedin Demirovic recently netted a hat-trick in Stuttgart’s 3-1 victory over Viking [2]. On the goalkeeping front, Dennis Seimen made his Champions League debut, becoming the youngest shot-stopper for VfB Stuttgart in the competition [2]. Other players who started in recent matches include Chris Führich, Maximilian Mittelstädt, and Grischa Prömel [1].
What it means
VfB Stuttgart currently sits in 13th position in the Bundesliga table with 6 points from six matches, having secured two wins and suffered four losses. Their goal difference stands at 8 goals scored and 10 conceded. The team’s recent form across all competitions shows a mixed bag, with a 1-1 draw against Club Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, a 0-1 loss to Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, a 3-0 Champions League win against ŠK Slovan Bratislava, a 2-0 Bundesliga victory over SC Paderborn 07, and a 0-1 home loss to Borussia Dortmund. This inconsistent form highlights the disparity between their European and domestic performances. The upcoming fixture sees Stuttgart host Gladbach in the Bundesliga. Predict.game forecasts a win for Stuttgart with a 65.0% probability and a predicted score of 2-1, suggesting a potential turnaround in their league fortunes at home. This match will be crucial for Stuttgart to start climbing the Bundesliga table and alleviate some of the pressure from their domestic struggles.
Sources
- Bundesliga.com: VfB Stuttgart maintain unbeaten UEFA Champions League start with Atlético Madrid draw bundesliga.com ↩
- Bundesliga.com: VfB Stuttgart, the UEFA Champions League surprise package? bundesliga.com ↩
- Kicker: Die zwei VfB-Gesichter: Wirklich keine "Spitzenmannschaft"? kicker.de ↩
- Kicker: Gegen Atletico ausgewechselt: Vagnoman fehlt Stuttgart vorerst kicker.de ↩
