Soccer Germany Bundesliga Prediction

Stuttgart vs Hamburger SV - Match Preview

⚽ 1 June 2023 - 18:45 GMT +0

Manager Sebastian Hoeneß believes unity is the key if Stuttgart is going to extend its three-year stint in the Bundesliga. The Reds fanbase has often been fractured this season, but after a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim on the final day of the regular league season consigned them to a two-legged relegation play-off, the boss urged “the club, the city and the team to all stick together” in order to aid their hopes of retaining their top-flight status.

Many supporters had already given up on Stuttgart remaining in the Bundesliga before Hoeneß took the reins in April, when the club were bottom of the table after a run of one win in 12 league outings (D3, L8). However, that form has been flipped around to just one defeat in eight league games since the new boss arrived (W3, D4), providing some much-needed confidence of avoiding the drop.

Attempting to take their place in the Bundesliga are Hamburg, who have worryingly lost nine of the last 13 trips to Stuttgart (W3, D1). The Red Shorts also had to pick themselves up from a dramatic final day of the season, when they were celebrating promotion after a 1-0 victory over Sandhausen, only to miss out on a place in the top two when Heidenheim netted a couple of injury-time goals to beat Jahn Regensburg, meaning Tim Walter’s side dropped to third.

Supporters might therefore be fearing a case of déjà vu, given their team were beaten in the play-off by Hertha Berlin last season. The manager will be hoping his “disappointed” players can ensure that doesn’t happen by extending an impressive run of three successive wins, as they look to return to the top flight for the first time since 2017/18.

📋 Key battle: Forward Silas will be hoping to extend his record of five wins from the nine home games he has scored in for Stuttgart (D2, L2). That record pales into insignificance compared to Hamburg striker Robert Glatzel though, who is on a run of 14 victories from his last 18 goalscoring appearances (D3, L1).

⚡ Hot streak: Stuttgart’s last nine matches across all competitions have seen both teams score.