Stuttgart vs St Pauli Preview: Team News & Prediction

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It has been a mixed start to the season for Stuttgart, as they now prepare to take on a St Pauli side that have started the campaign well as they continue to overachieve.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN+
Stuttgart preview: Frustrated Stuttgart
Stuttgart come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat to previously pointless Freiburg at the SC Stadion last weekend. In that game, Stuttgart led 1-0 until the 81st minute before a dramatic late turnaround, led by Igor Matanovic for Freiburg.
Stuttgart, who won the DFB-Pokal last season and have Sebastian Hoeness still at the helm as they prepare for UEFA Europa League football, had started the season with a 2-1 loss to Union Berlin before a slender win against Borussia Monchengladbach.
St Pauli preview: Impressive St Pauli
Having gained promotion in the 2023/24 season, St Pauli then lost manager Fabian Hurzeler to Brighton and Hove Albion. He was replaced by former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise boss Alexander Blessin, with the Hamburg-based outfit overachieving again.
They started the season with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund on the opening day of the season before a Hamburg derby victory against their arch-rivals away from home. They then defeated Augsburg by two goals to one at Millerntor last weekend.
Stuttgart team news: A couple of injuries
Stuttgart have a couple of key issues for this one as former Burnley centre-back Ameen Al Dakhil remains sidelined alongside former Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Deniz Undav.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Neubel; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Bouanani, El Khannouss, Leweling; Demirovic
Unavailable: Bredlow (Injured), Al Dakhil (Injured), Jaquez (Injured), Stergiou (Injured), Silas (Injured), Diehl (Injured), Undav (Injured)
Questionable:
St Pauli team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns for this one, albeit they are without some recognisable names such as Estonia international defender Karol Mets and former Peterborough United striker Ricky-Jade Jones.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Dzwigala; Pyrka, Sands, Fujita, Oppie; Sinani; Hountondji, Pereira Lage
Unavailable: Mets (Injured), Nemeth (Injured), Jones (Injured), Ceesay (Injured)
Questionable:
Stuttgart vs St Pauli prediction
Stuttgart play quite an open and attacking style of football under the highly-rated coach of Sebastian Hoeness. They will have to balance their open and aggressive system against the Bundesliga and European commitments. They now face a St Pauli side that will likely get themselves on the front foot here, with Alexander Blessin able to evolve the style and the quality of their personnel. This one should be quite a fun and intriguing watch for the neutral.
Stuttgart vs St Pauli tip: Both teams to score