VfB Stuttgart take to the spotlight of the 2. Bundesliga once more, as they prepare to face Fortuna Düsseldorf this weekend.
Stuttgart will travel to Düsseldorf with an expected feeling of optimism as, on paper, the visitors are the far superior team. However, as evident last week, Stuttgart were reminded that no game can be taken lightly in this league.
Both teams collect points on the opening week
Despite winning their opening game of the season against FC St. Pauli, Jos Luhukay’s team were lucky to emerge victorious. A goal from captain Christian Gentner in the dying moments of the game proved to be the match winner, as the game ended 2-1.
Stuttgart came from behind in the tussle to gain all three points, as St. Pauli took the lead early on through Aziz Bouhaddouz, which was cancelled out in the second half by substitute, Alexandru Maxim.
With a full stadium leading them to victory, Stuttgart will be hoping that their travelling supporters can spur them on this evening in Düsseldorf.
Düsseldorf scrape a draw against Saudhausen
Fortuna Düsseldorf are yet to taste victory this season, as they were forced to settle for a draw in their campaign opener against SV Sandhausen.
After going 2-0 early on in the game, Fortuna fought back through Adam Bodzek's sweetly-struck shot just before half time. Then a devastating Sandhausen own goal from Daniel Gordon, in the last minute of the game, gave Fortuna a much-needed point in preparation for the remainder of the season.
Friedhelm Funkel’s team will have to be much more alert, as die Schwaben come to visit this evening.
Team news
Late on in Fortuna’s draw with Sandhausen, Özkan Yildirim was forced off the pitch due to an horrific leg injury. The new signing suffered a fractured femur, torn meniscus and partially torn ACL at the Hardtwaldstadion. Understandably, no time scale has yet been placed on his return.
As for Stuttgart, they can welcome back Tobias Werner into the squad after the tragic news of his stillborn child in the run up to their game against St. Pauli. Anto Grgic is still unavailable with a back problem.
Fortuna Düsseldorf (4-2-3-1): Rensing; Schauerte, Akpoguma, Madlung, Schmitz; Gartner, Bodzek; Kiesewetter, Fink, Bellinghausen; Iyoha.
VfB Stuttgart (4-2-3-1): Langerak; Zimmer, Sama, Sunjic, Insua; Hosogai, Gentner; Klein, Maxim, Werner; Terodde.
The last time the two teams met, Fortuna took all the points, winning 3-1 in the 2013 Bundesliga campaign. They will undergo a challenge in trying to match that score line, however, with Stuttgart looking far from convincing last week, can the home team shock the visitors?