VfB Stuttgart host TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 9 of the Bundesliga. Sebastian Hoeneß will take on his former club without the services of the league’s top scorer Serhou Guirassy due to a muscle injury. “I have to think about how we plan without Serhou Guirassy. That’s our task now, to find other solutions – and we’ll do that as a team,” said an optimistic Hoeneß. Dan-Axel Zagadou has been able to complete some parts of team training, but there’s still a question mark over his involvement. “With Dan it’s still uncertain, but I’m hopeful that he’ll make it,” revealed the VfB head coach. Josha Vagnoman, Fabian Bredlow, Dennis Seimen and Nikolas Nartey remain sidelined.
Hoffenheim are currently in sixth place in the table, six points behind Stuttgart. And Hoeneß was full of praise for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side: “They’ve started well. There’s also the fact they’ve won all four of their away matches. Hoffenheim have a top squad and strengthened well in the summer. I’m expecting a top-quality match. We’ll need a really good performance if we’re to come away with a win or a point.”
TSG’s away record comes up against VfB’s form at home – the Cannstatt club have won every game at the MHPArena so far this season. “It’s natural that positive results give you more confidence,” added Hoeneß. “It’s important to me that we continue to keep things in perspective, train well and show discipline, precision and team spirit on the day. That was required for us to go on this run we’ve been on and I don’t see us letting up.”