Looking to adapt to the challenge

Justin Njinmah is an option off the bench (Photo: W.DE).

The squad: Head coach Ole Werner has centre-backs Anthony Jung and Marco Friedl available once again for the game against Stuttgart following their suspensions. Wide player Justin Njinmah will also be an option off the bench following surgery on his ankle. However, Isak Hansen-Aarøen is set to miss the game due to illness. Skelly Alvero (shoulder injury), Amos Pieper (ankle injury) and Jiri Pavlenka (muscle problems) are also all still absent due to injury. This weekend’s game comes too soon for Niklas Stark, who is working towards a return, whilst Jens Stage is still suspended due to his red card against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ole Werner on the opposition: “Stuttgart are an excellent team who play with a similar style to Leverkusen. Both teams try to lure their opponents and create space and situations where they can use their speed in behind the opposition’s back line. We will adapt to that. However, there are differences in between the two squads and you can’t transfer everything from one game to another.”

Plenty of attacking action expected

Previous meetings: Both sides are set to face off against each other for the 109th time in the Bundesliga – VfB haven’t faced any other side as many times in the top flight. Stuttgart have won on 40 occasions against the Green-Whites, whilst SVW want to close the gap in the head-to-head record on Sunday and are looking to pick up their 37th win. However, Stuttgart came out on top last time out on matchday 13 at the MHPArena thanks to goals from Denis Undav and Serhou Guirassy.

A recipe for success: Weiser’s crosses (Photo: W.DE).

Pinpoint crosses from the birthday boy: Werder wide man Mitchell Weiser has put in more crosses than anybody else this season. Five of his crosses have led to goals – this is the most in the Bundesliga. He could also give himself a present with another assist on Sunday as he will be celebrating his 30th birthday on the day of the home game against VfB. Weiser isn’t the only Werder player to have had his birthday on the same day as a home game this season. Romano Schmid enjoyed a 3-1 win against SC Freiburg on his birthday, whilst he also grabbed himself an assist. Leonardo Bittencourt also celebrated his 30th birthday on the day of the home game against RB Leipzig, with Werder managing to pick up a point as well.

No goalless draws: There tends to be plenty of action in both boxes in home games against VfB Stuttgart. There has been at least one goal in all of the previous 54 games between the two sides played at the wohninvest Weserstadion, whilst Stuttgart are one of Werder’s most favourable opponents from an attacking perspective. The Green-Whites have scored more home goals against VfB than any other club (115), whilst they have scored in each of their last 29 home games against Stuttgart.