Key Facts
- Stuttgart is playing just three days after a grueling cup semifinal that went into extra time — potential fatigue is the biggest risk factor for the hosts.
- Werder has yet to earn a point against the league’s top 5 teams and has scored only one goal — a structural disadvantage despite a recent uptick in morale.
- Stuttgart has conceded goals in four of its last five competitive matches, making goals from both sides likely; Werder has also scored in four of its last five matches.
- Jens Stage and Cameron Puertas recently revitalized Werder (3-1 derby win), but the absences of Bittencourt, Grüll, and Agu significantly limit coach Thiounes’ tactical options.
- In the last five head-to-head matches, Stuttgart has always scored and Werder has never kept a clean sheet—this matchup regularly produces goals on both sides.
- Bilal El Khannouss impressed as a substitute in the Cup semifinal and is likely to once again take on the creative role behind Undav and Demirovic.
Three days after the grueling Cup semifinal, which was only decided in the 119th minute by Tiago Tomás, Stuttgart welcomes a Werder side to the MHPArena that has clearly found its footing following the victory in the Northern Derby. Sebastian Hoeneß is driving his team toward Champions League spots, and the 4-0 win in the first leg in December 2025 underscores the hosts’ clear status as favorites.
- Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart
- Date and time: April 26, 2026, 3:30 PM
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 31)
Stuttgart heads into this match on an emotional high following Thursday’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Freiburg, though that performance was far from a walk in the park. Bilal El Khannouss changed the rhythm coming off the bench, Deniz Undav equalized, and Tiago Tomás finished the decisive attack following setups by Josha Vagnoman and Badredine Bouanani. At the same time, Freiburg left themselves exposed often enough, and Hoeneß knew his team had been lucky during several tense moments. Across all competitions, Stuttgart has won three of its last five games, with more than 1.5 goals scored in each of those matches. Offensive output is rarely the problem, as evidenced by the 5-2 win at Augsburg and the 4-0 victory over HSV, but defensive stability has been less consistent lately: the team has conceded goals in four of its last five games.
Stuttgart Form & Record Check
Werder heads south with significantly more confidence than a week ago, after the 3-1 victory in the northern derby against HSV brought relief.
Thioune called the result a relief. Jens Stage made the decisive difference, Cameron Puertas added another goal, and the bigger picture was just as important: Bremen had lost three of their previous four league games and desperately needed something to stabilize the mood again. The problem is that survival form and strong performances against tough opponents have been two different things for Werder so far. They remain in 15th place, level on points with HSV and five points ahead of 16th place. Their record against the top five teams is alarmingly poor: seven losses and just one goal scored. Thioune does at least get Marco Friedl back, but the absences of Leonardo Bittencourt, Marco Grüll, and Felix Agu noticeably limit the tactical options.
Werder is likely to line up in their usual 4-1-4-1 formation. Karl Hein is out, so Mio Backhaus (No. 30) should continue in goal. Mitchell Weiser and Felix Agu are also unavailable, which suggests Yukinari Sugawara (No. 3) and Olivier Deman (No. 2) will start at fullback. Senne Lynen (No. 14) is slated to play as the lone defensive midfielder, with Jens Stage (No. 6), Cameron Puertas (No. 18), and Romano Schmid (No. 20) providing running power and goal-scoring threat in front of him, while Jovan Milosevic (No. 19) is set to start as the center forward. The absences of Leonardo Bittencourt and Keke Topp further limit Thioune’s attacking options. This remains a prediction, not a confirmed starting lineup.
Werder Form & Record Check
The head-to-head record from recent years is more balanced than the current standings suggest. In the last five league meetings, each side has won twice, with one match ending in a draw. The most recent encounter in December 2025 was a clear-cut result: Stuttgart won 4-0 in Bremen. Prior to that, Werder had secured a 2-1 victory in 2025, as well as a 2-1 win in 2024, with a 2-2 draw in between. What stands out more clearly is the goal-scoring spectacle this matchup regularly delivers. Stuttgart has scored in all five encounters, Werder has not kept a single clean sheet, and every match has featured at least two goals. Interestingly, another trend is emerging for Stuttgart: The Swabians have been successful against Bremen after the break in three consecutive games, which carries significant weight if the game opens up after halftime.
Daniel Thioune is likely to rely on a compact formation once again. A possible Werder starting lineup is: Mio Backhaus; Yukinari Sugawara, Amos Pieper, Marco Friedl, Olivier Deman; Senne Lynen; Jens Stage, Cameron Puertas, Romano Schmid, Justin Njinmah; Jovan Milosevic. Bittencourt and Grüll are suspended, and Agu remains unavailable, so this is still just a prediction and not a confirmed starting lineup.
Stuttgart – Werder Head-to-Head & Statistics
Sebastian Hoeneß is likely to stick with his usual 3-4-1-2 formation, though this is more of a prediction than a confirmed starting lineup. With Finn Jeltsch still sidelined, the back three could consist of Ramon Hendriks (No. 3), Jeff Chabot (No. 24), and Dan-Axel Zagadou (No. 23) in front of Alexander Nübel (No. 33). Lorenz Assignon (No. 22) and Maximilian Mittelstädt (No. 7) would provide width, while Atakan Karazor (No. 16) and Angelo Stiller (No. 6) would anchor the midfield. Bilal El Khannouss (No. 11) seems the most likely choice as the link-up player behind Deniz Undav (No. 26) and Ermedin Demirovic (No. 9), after making such a strong impression in the Cup semifinal. Mirza Catovic and Lazar Jovanovic remain unavailable.
