Stuttgart vs Dortmund – News and Probable Lineups

A defeat for hosts Stuttgart against Borussia Dortmund at MHPArena could see them drop out of the Bundesliga’s top four spots.

With Dortmund sitting in second place and having accrued 61 points, they maintain a comfortable margin over third-placed Stuttgart, who have 53 points and only lead fifth-placed Hoffenheim by three points, despite their 5-2 victory over Augsburg on March 22.

Match overview

Even though Stuttgart allowed two goals against Augsburg, they took an early three-goal lead after Nikolas Nartey scored in the 31st minute and managed to restrict their opponents to a single shot in the box during the first half.

Die Roten’s recent win came after a stretch of two losses and one draw in their last four matches across all competitions, yet they now remain unbeaten in six Bundesliga fixtures, having secured three points in four of them.

If Sebastian Hoeness can lead his team to victory on Saturday, it would mark their sixth win in seven encounters against BVB, although they settled for a 3-3 draw in the earlier matchup from November 2025.

Scoring five goals against Augsburg was the fourth instance where Stuttgart netted three or more goals in six league matches, and while they conceded six in that period, they also maintained two clean sheets.

The hosts have been impressive on home soil, winning their last four matches at MHPArena.

Borussia Dortmund came from behind to defeat Hamburgo SV 3-2 on March 21, scoring three goals in the final 17 minutes after initially trailing 2-0.

Niko Kovac’s team has enjoyed a remarkable season, on course to finish with 77 points—20 more than they achieved in the 2024-25 season. However, the nine-point gap with Bayern Munich suggests they might face their 14th straight season without a league title.

BVB’s victory against Hamburgo marked their third consecutive win, extending their record to nine wins in 11 league outings, and it was the 13th consecutive league match in which they scored more than once.

Defensively, Dortmund has conceded two goals per match over their last six games, with a total of eight goals allowed in their last four away matches.

Kovac oversaw three wins from their five latest away games, and while they remain unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga away matches, they have had to settle for four draws in that period.

Team News

If Hoeness continues with the three-man defence, fans can expect to see Finn Jeltsch, Julian Chabot, and Ramon Hendriks play together.

Angelo Still is set to make his 24th Bundesliga start unless any last-minute injuries occur, and it seems likely that he will partner with Atakan Karazor in midfield.

Deniz Undav may have been a contender for striker of the season if not for Harry Kane’s outstanding performances, but he aims to net his 19th league goal this weekend.

For Borussia Dortmund, Emre Can will be a notable absentee; however, his limited starts—only seven in the Bundesliga—mean that centre-backs Luca Reggiani, Waldemar Anton, and Nico Schlotterbeck should be accustomed to filling his role in defence.

Jobe Bellingham is anticipated to join Marcel Sabitzer in a double pivot, and the English midfielder will be eager to demonstrate his capabilities and secure a place in the England squad for the World Cup.

Number nine Serhou Guirassy is expected to be included in the starting XI, with Karim Adeyemi and Maximilian Beier likely supporting him from the flanks.

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Nobel; Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendrix; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; El Khannouss; Demirovic, Undav

Borussia Dortmund probable starting XI:

Kobel; Reggiani, Anton, Schlotterbeck; Ryerson, Bellingham, Sabitzer, Svensson; Adeyemi, Guirassy, ​​Beier