Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Preview: Team News & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Stuttgart can move up into the Bundesliga top six, at least temporarily with victory at home to out-of-form Union Berlin.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 6th December 2024: UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+

Stuttgart Preview: Looking to make it three unbeaten in the league

Stuttgart backed up their 2-0 win over Bochum with a hard-fought, entertaining 2-2 draw away at Werder Bremen the following weekend, putting aside their Champions League mauling in Belgrade. Since then, Sebastian Hoeness’ side have advanced through to the next round of the DFB-Pokal, comfortably beating Jahn Regensburg by three goals to nil.

Now represents a massive period both domestically and in Europe for Hoeness’ men. They face four fixtures in all competitions prior to the winter break, three of which are at home and every one of the four games in question are winnable ones. Their only away match is against struggling Heidenheim.

Union Berlin Preview: One point from the last 12 available

Union Berlin remain in games throughout, but are ending up the wrong side of the result and the lack of points is testament to that. This was demonstrated most recently in a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, which saw Union equalise after conceding early on, but eventually give away a winning goal with just under 20 minutes of normal time remaining.

That result means that Union are now without a win since October against Holstein Kiel, a run of six matches in all competitions without victory, four of which ended in defeat. The pressure is building on head coach Bo Svensson.

Stuttgart Team News: Leweling could be available

Winger Jamie Leweling has been struggling with a hamstring injury, but Stuttgart are hopeful that he could be fit for the visit of Union. Defender Al-Dakhil may also play a part, but star striker Deniz Undav remains out with a thigh problem.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Stergiou, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Woltemade, Millot, Fuhrich; Demirovic

Unavailable: Raimund (Injured), Toure (Injured), Undav (Injured), Zagadou (Injured)

Questionable: Al-Dakhil (Illness), Leweling (Injured)

Union Berlin Team News: Leite hoping to be passed fit

The visitors will check on defender Diogo Leite and whether he has recovered sufficiently enough from injury to feature in this one. However, the trio of Ilic, Ogbemudia and Stein are all definitely out.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Trimmel, Kemlein, Khedira, Rothe; Jeong, Hollerbach, Vertessen

Unavailable: Ilic (Injured), Ogbemudia (Injured), Stein (Injured)

Questionable: Leite (Injured)

Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Prediction

When taking into account the recent form of Union Berlin, this is an opportunity for Stuttgart that they really can’t afford to pass up. They’ve shown over this past week that even without Undav and Toure, scoring goals won’t be a problem, with Demirovic having picked up the mantle admirably. Provided they tighten up defensively and make no unenforced errors against one of the weakest strike-forces in the Bundesliga, then Stuttgart should claim victory here.

Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Tip: Stuttgart to win