Click on any stream link below to watch the game
Click on any link in the table above to watch the game.
-------------------------------------------------
Stuttgart is looking to extend their winning streak to seven consecutive victories in the Bundesliga when they face Hoffenheim this Saturday. On the other hand, Hoffenheim sits in sixth place on the table, despite losing two of their last three matches.
Stuttgart, in contrast, seems to have forgotten the taste of defeat. Their 3-0 triumph against Union Berlin last weekend marked their sixth consecutive win. Serhou Guirassy, who scored the opening goal in that match, has an impressive total of 14 goals in eight league games this season. Late goals from Silas and Deniz Undav further embellished their victory, keeping Sebastian Hoeness's team in the second position.
Considering that Stuttgart narrowly escaped relegation by defeating Hamburger SV in a playoff just last June and managed to avoid finishing in the relegation zone by a single point in the previous season, their recent surge in form is truly remarkable.
The standout performances of Guirassy have attracted significant attention, with rumors of a £15 million release clause in his contract generating excitement across Europe. However, much of the credit for Stuttgart's resurgence goes to Hoeness, who will be eager to outperform his former club in the upcoming game on Saturday.
This weekend's game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena will showcase an intriguing side story on the sidelines, as both teams underwent a sort of managerial exchange earlier this year.
Pellegrino Matarazzo led Stuttgart to promotion after taking over in December 2019 and guided them to a top-half finish in their first Bundesliga season. However, a tough subsequent season led to his dismissal last October, and he was appointed as Hoffenheim's new manager in February this year.
Similar to his upcoming counterpart, Matarazzo faced a challenging situation with Hoffenheim in the relegation zone, but it took him longer to turn things around. Nevertheless, they managed to secure their Bundesliga status with five wins in their last 10 games.
While they have started the current season well and dispelled concerns of another relegation battle, a recent 3-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt was a setback. Maximilian Beier gave Hoffenheim an early lead, but the visitors scored three goals before halftime.
Matarazzo is eager to return to winning form and halt his former club's current momentum this weekend. A victory would propel his team to fifth place in the table, although this could be temporary, with RB Leipzig facing FC Koln later in the day.
This weekend's match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena will showcase an intriguing subplot on the sidelines. Stuttgart's belief in their invincibility took a significant hit when Guirassy suffered a minor hamstring injury against Union Berlin last weekend, potentially sidelining the Guinea forward until after the upcoming international break in November.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Undav is expected to step in for Guirassy from the start, having scored three goals in five substitute appearances for his new club. Silas will likely join him in the hosts' attacking lineup. In a managerial change earlier this year, Pellegrino Matarazzo, who had previously led Stuttgart to promotion in December 2019 and a top-half finish in their first Bundesliga season, was let go in October. He was subsequently appointed as Hoffenheim's new manager in February this year.
Like his upcoming counterpart, Matarazzo inherited a challenging situation with Die Kraichgauer in the relegation zone, but it took him more time to turn things around. Nevertheless, they secured five wins in their final 10 games, ensuring their 16th consecutive season in the Bundesliga.
Concerns about relegation have eased with a strong start to the current campaign, but Hoffenheim suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in their last match. Maximilian Beier gave Hoffenheim an early lead, but the visitors responded with three goals before halftime.
Matarazzo is determined to get back to winning ways and burst his former club's bubble this weekend, especially since a victory could propel Hoffenheim to fifth place in the standings, although it may be temporary, with RB Leipzig hosting FC Koln later in the day.
Stuttgart continued their impressive run with a 3-0 victory over Union Berlin at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Saturday. Sebastian Hoeness' team has now won eight consecutive matches in various competitions following their 5-1 defeat to RB Leipzig on August 25. They currently sit second in the Bundesliga with 21 points from eight games, just one point behind the leaders, Bayer Leverkusen.
On the other hand, Hoffenheim couldn't break their poor streak, suffering a 3-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Pellegrini Matarazzo's squad has lost two of their last three games, after having only lost one of their first five. This dip in form has caused Hoffenheim to slide to the sixth position in the league, trailing fifth-placed Leipzig by two points.
Stuttgart has a favorable track record in their head-to-head matches, with 12 wins out of their last 28 meetings, along with seven losses. Additionally, Stuttgart has remained unbeaten in their last six home games against Hoffenheim, recording a series of draws since their 2-0 loss in September 2014. Hoffenheim, however, has been in fine form on the road this season, winning all five of their away games across various competitions, scoring 15 goals and conceding six.
While Hoffenheim aims to get back on track and maintain their strong away performance, they will face a formidable Stuttgart side that is currently in excellent form.
Supporters of Stuttgart are indeed living the dream. With eight games played, VfB leads Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings and hasn't dropped a game in more than two months. As good as it gets, this is it.
Although it hurts to lose record-scorer Serhou Guirassy to injury, Brighton loanee Deniz Undav, who has three goals already, will start in his place. On Matchday 9, Angelo Stiller, who finished his summer transfer from Hoffenheim, is making his way back home.
Stuttgart can play in Europe if they can maintain this level of consistency, having gone from just missing out on promotion to winning their eighth game in a row.
