Borussia Dortmund – VfB Stuttgart
The semi-finals of the DFB Cup took place during the week, in which both BVB and VfB Stuttgart were only allowed to watch. However, both were able to use the entire week to prepare for this top clash in the Bundesliga. On Saturday evening, Borussia will welcome the Swabians to Signal Iduna Park with important points at stake in the battle for Champions League qualification. Find out in our Dortmund – Stuttgart betting tip whether Dortmund can close the gap on Stuttgart with a win or whether the Swabians can underpin their ambitions of finishing in the top three.
Dortmund were able to take a step towards the top flight last weekend, as fellow rivals Leipzig slipped up and BVB were able to build up a small cushion over the Red Bulls thanks to their strong win in Munich. The win against Bayern gives the Black & Yellows confidence for the tough weeks ahead.
Their opponents from Stuttgart are one place ahead of Dortmund, albeit with a four-point lead. Last weekend, the Swabians only picked up a point at the last second in a nerve-wracking match against Heidenheim and continue to consolidate third place
Dortmund – Stuttgart info
- Date & Time: 06.04.2024, 18:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 28
- TV broadcast/live stream: Sky
Dortmund Form & Balance Check
BVB are currently in good form and underlined this with their 2-0 win at Bayern last weekend. The success in Munich was their fifth win in a row and Dortmund are perhaps stabilizing at just the right time of the season. The Borussians are fourth in the table, three points ahead of Leipzig. It seems to be good for BVB that the media are currently focusing on Leverkusen and Bayern and Dortmund are entering a strong phase somewhat under the radar. The team is in the top eight in the Champions League and the course is currently set for them to play in the top flight next year as well
Hummels must go to the European Championship
Routine defender Mats Hummels has played a big part in Dortmund’s current success, showing in recent weeks that he is still one of Germany’s best defenders. First he put in a great performance in the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Eindhoven, then he scored against Frankfurt the following week and now defended against Bayern to keep out everything that came at Dortmund’s goal.
In doing so, he helped ensure that BVB have only conceded two goals in their last five games. He was not considered by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann during the recent international break, but with these performances, the calls for Hummels to go to the European Championship are getting louder
Dortmund facts & analysis
- Fourth place in the table
- Won last five competitive matches
- Only two goals conceded in the last five games
Stuttgart Form & Balance Check
Stuttgart also continue to play strong soccer. The 3-3 draw against Heidenheim was their 9th league game in a row without defeat, including only two draws. As a result, VfB remain in third place and, with 57 points, are only three points behind Bayern in second place. The lead to the Europa League place is a stable seven points.
If Stuttgart do not end up in a negative streak, they should crown their excellent season with a place in the top flight. A win at BVB would be a big step in that direction, but a defeat would make things even more exciting for the Swabians
Guirassy scores and scores
Serhou Guirassy remains hungry for goals in the final spurt of the season and scored again last weekend against Heidenheim. The goal for the 1:0 lead was his sixth goal from the last six games and the Guinean has scored an impressive 23 goals this season despite a difficult phase at the start of the year in which a number of minor injuries repeatedly slowed the striker down. Last year, Guirassy would have won the top scorer’s crown, but this year he is ahead of Bayern’s Harry Kane, whose eight-goal lead is unlikely to be overtaken
Stuttgart facts & analysis
- Third place in the table
- Unbeaten in nine league games
- Last game a draw
BVB will play with a classic 4-3-3 formation. In all likelihood, Gregor Kobel will be back in the starting eleven in goal after injury. Marcel Sabitzer, who came back from the international break with a slight injury, could also be fit enough to make the starting line-up. We expect the attack around Jadon Sancho, Niclas Füllkrug and the currently strong Karim Adeyemi to remain unchanged.
Stuttgart will line up in a 3-4-2-1 system with Guirassy as the only real striker. Captain Waldemar Anton is suspended and will be replaced by Leonidas Stergiou. In midfield, we expect Atakan Karazor to replace Mahmoud Dahoud in the starting line-up. Offensive options from the bench are Silas and Jamie Leweling
Dortmund – Stuttgart head-to-head & stats
Dortmund and Stuttgart are two traditional clubs who have faced each other 113 times in the past. The direct comparison is even and both BVB and VfB have been victorious in 44 matches. Dortmund still have a score to settle this season, as not only the first leg in the league but also the clash in the DFB Cup went to the Swabians this season. The historic first Bundesliga match between the two took place in 1963. Back then, Stuttgart won 2:1.
Direct comparison (H2H)
