Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig – News and Probable Lineups

The battle for Champions League spots intensifies as Stuttgart and RB Leipzig square off at the MHP Arena this Sunday evening.

With both clubs currently sitting on 47 points in the Bundesliga, a win could be pivotal for their hopes of achieving a top-four finish.

Match overview

Stuttgart competed in Europa League knockout matches on Thursday night, facing FC Porto at home but ultimately losing 2-1 in the first leg.

Head coach Sebastian Hoeness and his squad will aim for a challenging comeback in Portugal next Thursday, but first, they have an exciting encounter with RB Leipzig to focus on this weekend.

The stakes are considerable, with the race for the top four remaining tightly contested, as only three points separate sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen from fourth-placed Stuttgart.

RB Leipzig occupies a crucial position in this scramble, meaning a win for either team would significantly bolster their chances for Champions League qualification.

Stuttgart heads into this fixture boasting an impressive four-match unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga, which includes two convincing victories against Koln and Wolfsburg.

Additionally, the Swabians enjoy an excellent home record, having secured nine wins out of twelve Bundesliga matches at the MHP Arena, suffering just one defeat.

In contrast, RB Leipzig have not faced the burdens of European competition this season, which is something they aim to rectify moving forward.

Ole Werner’s side arrives in Leipzig following consecutive Bundesliga wins against Hamburgo SV and Augsburg, maintaining their position in the hunt for a top-four spot.

A successful return to the European elite would signify a strong inaugural season for head coach Werner, though with nine fixtures remaining, there is much work ahead.

Leipzig remain unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga encounters, yet a significant concern for Die Roten Bullen is their vulnerable defence.

They have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight matches, letting in two or more goals in half of those games.

Another issue is Leipzig’s inconsistent performance on the road, where they have accumulated 11 points from their last seven away fixtures — this includes the three points gained from a recent 2-1 win against Hamburgo SV.

Stuttgart Bundesliga form:

W L W D W D

Stuttgart form (all competitions):

W D L W D L

RB Leipzig Bundesliga form:

L W D D W W

RB Leipzig form (all competitions):

W L D D W W

Team News

Stuttgart may need to make some rotations as they try to keep their squad fresh for both league and European responsibilities.

In terms of injuries, Lazar Jovanovic has been sidelined during recent training sessions due to a back issue and is expected to miss out on Sunday.

Questions also loom regarding Josha Vagnomann’s fitness, who might also be unavailable this weekend.

Ermedin Demirovic, Jamie Leweling, and Deniz Undav must exercise caution, as they are all a yellow card away from suspension.

On the flip side, RB Leipzig is unlikely to implement many alterations after their win over Augsburg last weekend.

Xaver Schlager could be considered for a bench role as he works on his comeback from an adductor injury.

The current injury list includes Viggo Gebel (torn ligament), Peter Gulacsi (ligament), Kosta Nedeljkovic (back), Forzan Ouedraogo (tendon), and Suleman Sani (ankle).

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Nubel; Assignon, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Leweling, Undav, El Khannouss; Demirovic

RB Leipzig probable starting XI:

Vandevoordt; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Seiwald, Gruda, Baumgartner; Diomande, Romulo, Nusa

Managing both European and domestic commitments at this point in the season is quite challenging, and we anticipate that these additional matches with FC Porto will have an impact.

RB Leipzig has enjoyed a commendable run of results lately, and we expect them to secure a significant victory away at Stuttgart.