VfB Stuttgart – FSV Mainz 05
On matchday 21, the Bundesliga is eagerly awaiting the top match in the BayArena on Saturday evening (Leverkusen – Bayern betting tip). But there are also two exciting games in the German top flight on Sunday. The clash between VfB Stuttgart and FSV Mainz 05 kicks off at 15:30.
Stuttgart will be looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat to the Werkself in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup during the week. In the league, however, the Swabians have recently recorded two convincing wins in a row and are in an outstanding 3rd place as a result.
The visitors from Mainz were also in action during the week, but not in the cup. On Wednesday, they had a catch-up match against Union Berlin, which ended in a 1-1 draw. You can find out whether the relegation-threatened Nullfünfer will now get their second win of the season at VfB of all places in our Stuttgart – Mainz betting tip.
Stuttgart – Mainz info
- Date & Time: 11.02.2024, 3:30 pm
- Playing venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 21
Stuttgart Form & Balance Check
VfB Stuttgart are probably still the biggest surprise of this season. The Swabians achieved a major turnaround after only managing to avoid relegation in the relegation play-offs in the previous season. This season, however, coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team is not fighting against relegation, but for a place in the Champions League.
Even their elimination in the cup during the week has not changed the Swabians’ outstanding performances. In the Bundesliga, VfB also recorded two strong wins against Leipzig and Freiburg recently. Thanks to these two successes, Stuttgart remain in 3rd place in the table. RB Leipzig in 5th place is also four points away
Guirassy is back!
In January, VfB Stuttgart were missing their top scorer Serhou Guirassy, who was away at the Africa Cup with his home country Guinea. The 27-year-old scored an outstanding 17 times in the first half of the season, exceeding the expectations of the greatest optimists. However, the attacker has since returned to Swabia. However, the former Cologne player was not back in the squad against Leverkusen.
The striker is now training with the team again and will probably be an option for the starting eleven for Sunday’s match. The attacker will also have very fond memories of his opponents. In the previous clash with FSV in the first half of the season, Serhou Guirassy scored an impressive hat-trick as VfB Stuttgart celebrated a 3-1 away win in Mainz
Stuttgart facts & analysis
- In third place in the Bundesliga
- Guirassy and Undav together with 30 Bundesliga goals
- Third best offense in the Bundesliga
Mainz Form & Balance Sheet Check
Mainz have been in the German top flight without interruption since the 2009/10 season. This year, however, the picture is less pleasing for the Nullfünfer. FSV are currently 17th in the table and have only recorded one win this season. This was back in November, when Mainz defeated RB Leipzig 1:0.
It was also the first game under coach Jan Siewert, who was appointed as the long-term solution at the MEWA Arena in the winter. Mainz suffered only four defeats in the following ten games, but failed to secure a point or two. Even the 1-1 draw against Union Berlin on Wednesday could have been better. As a result, the “Nullfünfer” are still on twelve points and are already three points behind Cologne in the relegation places
Burkardt scores again
Jonathan Burkardt was regarded as the Nullfünfer’s greatest talent a few years ago and even played for all of Germany’s national U-teams. Born in Darmstadt, he also played a total of 20 games for the U21 national team and even became European U21 champion with this team in 2021. However, the now 23-year-old suffered a serious knee injury at the end of the first half of the pre-season and was ruled out for the rest of last season.
The center forward also missed the start of this season. Burkardt then made his comeback in the away game in Sinsheim at the end of November. Since then, the striker has featured in every Mainz game. During the week, Burkardt also found the back of the net again when he headed in the 1:0 goal against Union Berlin
Mainz facts & analysis
- 17th in the league
- First win of the season
- Second-worst offense in the league
At VfB Stuttgart, we expect to see the front two again this weekend, consisting of Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav. Dan-Axel Zagadou will miss a few more weeks through injury. Otherwise, coach Sebastian Hoeneß has all his players available.
We expect FSV Mainz 05 to play a 4-3-3 again, with new signing Nadiem Amiri once again pulling the strings in midfield. In attack, Ludovic Ajorque will be hoping to finally score his second goal of the season
Stuttgart – Mainz head-to-head & stats
The Swabians have won 15 of their 35 games so far, while Mainz have only managed twelve victories. However, FSV’s last win against Stuttgart dates back to 2019. VfB also won the first leg 3:1.
Direct comparison (H2H)
