Stuttgart vs Hamburg Preview & Prediction | 2022-23 German Bundesliga Relegation Play-Off
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THE FACTS
When is Stuttgart vs Hamburg on and what time does it start? Stuttgart vs Hamburg will take place on Thursday 1st June, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Stuttgart vs Hamburg? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Stuttgart vs Hamburg on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Stuttgart vs Hamburg
Where can I stream Stuttgart vs Hamburg in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Stuttgart vs Hamburg can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
STUTTGART
There was a time where Stuttgart fans will have been happy to accept competing in the relegation play-off if it meant them avoiding going down automatically, after winning just four Bundesliga fixtures from 26 between August and the start of April. However, the arrival of Sebastian Hoeness sparked a much-needed upturn in fortunes. Since the former Hoffenheim boss’ arrival, Stuttgart have lost just one of their last eight league games and are unbeaten at Mercedes-Benz Arena, their only loss at home under Hoeness coming in the DFB-Pokal semi-final at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Such a turnaround deserves credit, although Stuttgart’s backline remains extremely fragile. They remain without a clean sheet since April 5th against 2. Bundesliga side Nurnberg in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal. But scoring goals is no longer such an issue and that will be so vitally important here vs Hamburg. The only real disappointment from Stuttgart’s perspective was that they didn’t do enough to overcome Hoffenheim on the final day of the regular season. Victory would have seen them secure outright survival at the expense of Augsburg, After falling behind, Stuttgart equalised with ten minutes ago, but despite throwing everyone forward, they could not find that all-important winning goal.
HAMBURG
As the full-time whistle blew at the BWT-Stadion and Hamburg fans poured onto the pitch after their side had overcoming Sandhausen by a goal to nil, the six-time German champions were ready to start celebrating a long-awaited return to the Bundesliga after a five-year exile. But in a dramatic twist of fate, promotion rivals Heidenheim produced something very special away at Jahn Regensburg. Entering second-half stoppage time 1-0 down, Heidenheim proceeded to draw level from the penalty spot, before completing a quick remarkable turnaround in the 99th minute, Tim Kleindienst scoring the winning goal which sent Heidenheim up as 2. Bundesliga champions and condemned Hamburg to a third-place finish for the second consecutive season.
In 2021-22, Hertha Berlin were Hamburg’s opponents at this stage of the campaign and Tim Walter’s side couldn’t have asked for a better start to the play-off, winning the first-leg 0-1 in the German capital. However, the former European Cup winners froze in front of their own fans, allowing a Hertha team led by Hamburg legend Felix Magath to turn the tie on its head, winning 0-2 and the Volksparkstadion and securing their Bundesliga safety by two goals to one on aggregate. Whilst Hertha have been relegated automatically this season, Hamburg find themselves in exactly the same situation, a two-legged tie away from a return back to where many understandably feel that they belong.
THE TEAM NEWS
STUTTGART
After coming off the bench and scoring against Hoffenheim, Tiago Tomas has to be a strong contender to feature from the start this time round, with either Chris Fuhrich or Silas Mvumpa dropping to the bench. Sebastian Hoeness remains without 20-year-old striker Thomas Kastanaras, who is missing with a foot injury, which has also kept Dan-Axel Zagadou on the sidelines, although he could yet return to play some part in this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Bredlow; Mavropanos, Anton, Ito; Vagnoman, Karazor, Endo, Sosa; Tomas, Guirassy, Mvumpa
UNAVAILABLE: Kastanaras (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Zagadou (Injured)
HAMBURG
Tim Walter’s side will be greatly boosted by the return of Bakery Jatta, the Gambian having missed the final day of the 2. Bundesliga season due to suspension after being sent off against Greuther Furth. He’ll take his place the starting line-up as part of a front three that includes Robert Glatzel and Jean-Luc Dompe, who scored Hamburg’s winning goal vs Sandhausen. Andras Nemeth, Noah Katterbach and Omar Mageed are all out injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes; Heyer, David, Schonlau, Muheim; Reis, Kittel, Meffert; Jatta, Glatzel, Dompe
UNAVAILABLE: Katterbach (Injured), Megeed (Injured), Nemeth (Injured), Vuskovic (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Benes (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
It’s hard to think that Hamburg won’t have been heavily impacted mentally by promotion being snatched away from them in such dramatic fashion and having just four days to recompose themselves won’t be easy. There has been a steely determination about Stuttgart under Hoeness and the scenes at full time this past Saturday suggested that they are ready to fight to the death here to keep their place in the German top flight. Stuttgart will know the importance of home advantage in the first-leg and will look to ram that down the throats of Hamburg. Often, it’s the 2. Bundesliga team that comes into the relegation play-off with momentum on their side, but this time round it feels like the opposite is true. Therefore, back Stuttgart to secure a precious first-leg lead over Hamburg.
TIP: STUTTGART TO WIN
