Looking to take points off this season’s surprise package

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2 December 2023, 11:17 yayınlandı

Ole Werner has a clear objective heading into the fixture (Photo: W.DE).

The squad: Amos Pieper will definitely not be in the running for Ole Werner’s squad on Saturday. The 25-year-old centre-back broke his right ankle in training on Wednesday, and will therefore be out of action for several months. Both Nicolai Rapp and Leon Opitz will also miss out, as both are currently still working on their rehabilitation. It’s also likely that Jiri Pavlenka will sit out at the weekend due to a cold. On a more positive note, Naby Keïta will return to the squad, provided there are no last-minute changes.

Ole Werner on the opposition: “They’ve taken a lot of momentum and self confidence from difficult situations. They also have great individual quality in their squad, with players who fit in well with the coach’s playing style. But we’re obviously going to Stuttgart with the goal of winning the game.”

Super subs and few fouls

Previous meetings: This Saturday will mark the 109th Bundesliga clash between SVW and Stuttgart, a fixture that both teams will head into on reasonably equal footing. The Green-Whites have won 36 of these games, drawing 34 times and coming away empty-handed on 38 occasions. SV Werder also emerged victorious in the most recent match against the Swabians, in which Jens Stage and Marvin Ducksch fired home to secure a 2-0 win in the second half of the 2022/23 season.

Justin Njinmah always makes an impact off the bench for SVW (Photo: W.DE).

A trick up their sleeve: Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß has recently proven to have a bit of a knack for bringing goalscorers off the bench. The side have scored six goals from substitutes so far this season, which is the most in the league. Serhou Guirassy most recently struck home the winner for VfB in their 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund after getting subbed on in the 67th minute. Ole Werner is also renowned for his super subs, with Werder netting five goals from off the bench so far this season.

Fair play: VfB Stuttgart’s defence are very stable, and tend to stick to the rulebook. Not only do they contest a lot of challenges, but they also rarely resort to using unfair methods to win back possession, having only committed 115 fouls so far this season and receiving the second fewest yellow cards (16) behind Köln (13). SVW, on the other hand, rely on a more physical approach, having made 151 fouls and been awarded 27 yellow cards so far this season.