Stuttgart vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach: can the visitors finally end their losing streak?
On October 23, the next round of the German Bundesliga gets underway in Stuttgart, with the hosts taking on Borussia Mönchengladbach. The two teams have completely different objectives, but both are dealing with plenty of problems. The hosts want to return to winning ways, while the visitors have already reached the point where every single point is worth its weight in gold.
Stuttgart: time to turn things around
Sebastian Hoeneß's side have not started the season as confidently as their fans would have hoped. After six rounds, the Swabians had six points and sat 13th in the table. Their latest league outing was particularly disappointing: on October 17, Stuttgart lost 0-1 away to Hamburg. Now, a home game offers them a good chance to make amends in front of their supporters.
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That said, Stuttgart should certainly not be written off. The team have enough attacking quality to create chances even against opponents who look to sit deep and play on the counter. Deniz Undav is capable of finding space between the lines, while Ermedin Demirović adds an edge in the final third. Angelo Stiller also plays an important role in progressing the ball, although the players' fitness and any potential squad limitations must be taken into account before the match.
Stuttgart's main task will be to prevent their opponents from gaining confidence. If the hosts take control of possession early and consistently work the ball into the penalty area, they will have a strong chance of claiming all three points.
Borussia Mönchengladbach: the crisis deepens
The situation is far more worrying for the team from Mönchengladbach. After their first six matches, they had failed to pick up a single point and were sitting bottom of the table. The change in management has not produced the desired effect either: under Alexander Blessin, Borussia continue to lose.
In the latest round, on October 18, Gladbach lost 1-2 to Hoffenheim. Before that, they were beaten by Köln (1-2) and Mainz (3-4). These results highlight the team's main problem: even when they manage to create danger in attack, the defense regularly makes mistakes. Seven goals scored over the opening stretch is not a bad return, but conceding 20 tells its own story.
Away to Stuttgart, the visitors will have to be especially disciplined without the ball. If they once again lose their shape during transitions from attack to defense, the hosts will surely look to exploit it. At the same time, their desperate situation could force Borussia to play more boldly than usual.
What can we expect from the match?
Based on status and current form, Stuttgart look like the favorites. Home advantage, a more convincing squad and the visitors' difficult situation all point in the hosts' favor. But they cannot afford to relax: their own results are far from ideal, and the pressure following the defeat to Hamburg has not gone away.
The total goals market also deserves attention. Borussia concede plenty, but they are capable of creating chances at the other end as well. If the visitors do not retreat into a deep defensive block with the entire team, this could be an open encounter.
My prediction is a Stuttgart win.
