Stuttgart vs Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Stuttgart are one of the more entertaining teams to watch in Europe and they had ben in excellent form as they now welcome mid-table Cologne to the VfB Stadion.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Stuttgart preview: Push for the top four
Coached by the highly-rated Sebastian Hoeness, Stuttgart begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots in the Bundesliga on goal difference.
Their good form was ended in their most recent outing at the Millerntor in Hamburg last week. Struggling St Pauli went 2-0 up in a game that they dominated before Jamie Leweling notched a late consolation for the visitors.
Cologne preview: Mid-table Cologne
Cologne begin the match day sitting in the bottom-half of the table but only just, and they have been quite impressive upon their return to the German top-flight, following promotion to the Bundesliga last season.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a 2-1 loss at home to RB Leipzig at the RheinEnergie Stadion last weekend with Jan Thielmann’s 51st minute strike being sandwiched by a Christoph Baumgartner brace.
Stuttgart team news: Jaquez a doubt
Versatile centre-back Luca Jaquez remains a doubt for the hosts due to illness, while Dan-Axel Zagadou, Lazar Jovanovic and Tiago Tomas are all definitely unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Neubel; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Hendriks, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; El Khannouss, Undav, Fuhrich; Demirovic
Unavailable: Zagadou (Injured), Jovanovic (Injured), Tomas (Injured)
Questionable: Jaquez (Illness), Nartey (Injured)
Cologne team news: Simpson-Pusey out
Manchester City loanee centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is a confirmed injury absentee, while fellow defenders Alessio Castro-Montes and Dominique Heintz are doubtful, too.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Schwabe; Thielmann, Sebulonsen, Ozkacar, Lund; Johannesson, Martel, Krauss; Kaminski, Ache, El Mala
Unavailable: Simpson-Pusey (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Hubers (Injured)
Questionable: Castro-Montes (Injured), Heintz (Injured), Maina (Injured), Ache (Injured)
Stuttgart vs Cologne prediction
Stuttgart are a brilliant team to watch and they can often be undermined by their intensity and aggression leading to haphazard defensive performances. On the front foot, though, the hosts can dismantle almost any side. Cologne have one of the better defensive records in an entertaining Bundesliga but if any side can draw them out then it is likely to be Stuttgart.
Stuttgart vs Cologne tip: Both teams to score
