Opponent analysis: VfB Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig

Third versus fourth in the table!

On Saturday afternoon, RB Leipzig will travel to the MHP Arena in Stuttgart for matchday 19 of the Bundesliga season (15:30 CET).

VfB Stuttgart currently sit third in the league, while Leipzig are hot on their heels in fourth place. The teams are only separated by a point, as Stuttgart have picked up 34 to RBL’s 33 so far this campaign. The clash promises to be an absolute cracker!

RBL demonstrated that they’re more than up to the challenge posed by Sebastian Hoeneß’s side earlier in the season, as we ran out as 5-1 winners at the Red Bull Arena. What’s more, Leipzig have never lost a match against VfB, who will be without some of their most important players, including top scorer Serhou Guirassy, at the weekend.

Find everything you need to know about our next opponents in our opposition analysis!

A home win in the return fixture: RBL roar back from behind to beat Stuttgart 5-1!

RBL turn the game around in the second half

Form

After an strong and consistent first half of the season, Stuttgart are still waiting for their first points in the New Year. They lost their last two games on the road against BorussiaMönchengladbach (3-1) and VfLBochum (1-0) and have only picked up four points in their last five matches.

However, the Swabians will be back at home this weekend and they have proved difficult to beat there this season. The only away side to come away from the MHP Arena with three points this season was TSGHoffenheim (3-2 loss on matchday 9). Stuttgart have picked up 22 points (seven victories) on their own turf this season, which means they have the third-best home record in the league.

VfB’s last five competitive games

1-0 loss away at VfL Bochum (Matchday 18)
3-1 loss away at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Matchday 17)
3-0 win against FC Augsburg (Matchday 16)
3-0 loss away at Bayern München (Matchday 15)
1-1 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Matchday 14)

Key facts

Stuttgart are a team that like to have the ball at their feet and dominate games. Their passing accuracy of 87.7% is only bettered by that of FCBayern (89.8%) and BayerLeverkusen (89.7%). They also average 57% possession this season, which is also the third-best value in the Bundesliga behind the two aforementioned sides.
This season, Stuttgart have won 1,781 duels (51.74%), which makes them one of the best tackling sides in the league. RBLeipzig are statistically top of the pack, having won 52.6% of their duels.
VfB have been awarded six penalties, a league high. However, the Swabians have only converted three of those penalties.
Star striker SerhouGuirassy has lit up the Bundesliga so far this season, netting 17 goals. That’s almost half of Stuttgart’s combined tally as a team (38). He’s the second-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga behind Harry Kane.

Statistics

Most goals: Serhou Guirassy (17 goals)
Most assists: Chris Führich (5 assists)
Most goal contributions: Serhou Guirassy (17 goals / 1 assist)
Clean sheets: Alexander Nübel (6) – 23 goals conceded

Squad

Transfer market

The Swabians have had a quiet winter transfer window so far. Midfielder MateoKlimowicz has moved to Mexican side Atletico de San Luis on a permanent deal, while attacker ThomasKastanaras has been loaned out to SSV Ulm. Neither player made an appearance for VfB in the first half of the season.

Key players

Captain WaldemarAnton has played all 18 Bundesliga games for the club this season. The 27-year-old is a crucial part of Stuttgart’s defence thanks to his physicality and tackling ability. His passing ability from deep is also impressive, as is his aerial ability from attacking set-pieces.
AngeloStiller is another of VfB’s go-to players. The Munich-born midfielder came through FCBayern’s youth set-up, before growing into a Bundesliga regular at Hoffenheim over the past few seasons. The 22-year-old has impressed with his football IQ and passing ability time and again this season when he’s been deployed as a central midfielder.
ChrisFührich is a focal point in Stuttgart’s attack, having bagged five goals and assisted five more this season. The attacker normally plays down the left-hand side and was handed his Germanydebut by new head coach JulianNagelsmann in October. He likes to cut inside and use his technique and speed to beat his man. Führich is also clinical when he gets the ball onto his right foot.
DenizUndav has hit the ground running for VfB since arriving on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion last August. His instincts in the box and ability to exploit space in the opposition’s box make him a real threat. The 27-year-old chose to represent Germany in December and will be hoping to be a part of the national team’ squad for the EUROs in summer alongside teammate Führich.

Absentees

Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) and Silas Katompa Mvumpa (DR Congo) will definitely not be involved in Saturday’s clash, as they are both participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. The same applies to Hiroki Ito (Japan) and Wooyeong Jeong (South Korea), who are also on international duty at the Asian Cup.
Holding midfielder Atakan Karazor picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the game against Bochum and will therefore miss the game at the weekend through suspension.
Midfielder LilianEgloff (lateral knee ligament tear) will not be part of the matchday squad due to injury. NikolasNartey has been sidelined with damaged knee cartilage and it is still unclear whether he will make his comeback to the side against RBL.
Find all of the latest news about RB Leipzig’s squad here.

RBL’s record against VfB

Head-to-head

9 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses – 23:4 goal record
6 home wins, 3 away wins
Top scorer: Dominik Szoboszlai (4 goals)
Biggest win:5-1 on 25th August 2023 (Goals: Benjamin Henrichs, Dani Olmo, Lois Openda, Kevin Kampl, Xavi)

The last five meetings

25th August 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 2: RB Leipzig 5–1 VfB Stuttgart
27th January 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 18: RB Leipzig 2–1 VfB Stuttgart
7th August 2022 | Bundesliga, Matchday 1: VfB Stuttgart 1–1 RB Leipzig
15th January 2022 | Bundesliga, Matchday 19: VfB Stuttgart 0–2 RB Leipzig
20th August 2021 | Bundesliga, Matchday 2: RB Leipzig 4–0 VfB Stuttgart

Head coach

At 41 years old, SebastianHoeneß is one of the youngest head coaches in the Bundesliga. Hoeneß, who worked in the youth setup at RBLeipzig from 2014 to 2019, made the step up to Bundesliga level after spells at FCBayern’s U19s and second team.
The Munich native has been in charge of the Swabians since last April. Prior to that, he had a two-year spell at TSGHoffenheim. Hoeneß took over Stuttgart with the side five points from safety and went unbeaten in his first five games. By the end of the season, the team had avoided relegation comfortably and reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal.

VfB have been playing attractive, attacking football under Hoeneß this season and he has transformed the side into one of the biggest surprise packages in the Bundesliga, with the Swabians currently sitting third. He often uses a 4-2-3-1 formation.