Arminia Bielefeld vs. VfB Stuttgart: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Four defeats on the spin - all without scoring - have left Bielefeld in a bit of a tailspin and they now sit second-bottom going into Matchday 28. Their latest loss was a 4-0 mauling at Mainz prior to the international break, which would have been a welcome chance for Frank Kramer & Co. to regroup. Despite their issues, Bielefeld can move as high as 14th if they beat Stuttgart, who currently occupy the position. Masaya Okugawa picked up an illness since the Mainz defeat but was back in training this week, ensuring Kramer has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Stuttgart's own slump has begun to be addressed in recent weeks, with Pellegrino Matarazzo leading his side to two wins out of three in the league. Both victories have been dramatic 3-2 wins over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Augsburg, with strike duo Sasa Kalajdzic and Marmoush hitting the respective winners in those games. Tiago Tomas also scored in the Augsburg win, with that trio developing a potent partnership in recent weeks. However, influential left-back Borna Sosa missed training in midweek and could miss out. If he does, the returning Hiroki Ito is expected to slot into the defence.

Match stats

Okugawa, who decided the reverse fixture, is Arminia's eight-goal leading marksman for the campaign, despite scoring just once in his previous eight Bundesliga appearances.

Patrick Wimmer has set up five of those eight Okugawa goals, including the winner in Stuttgart. He's Bielefeld's best for assists with seven.

Bielefeld have lost four consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since Kramer took charge in March 2022.

Kalajdzic has registered two goals and as many assists across his last four appearances.

Sosa's seven assists is a league high among Bundesliga defenders in 2021/22.

Stuttgart have only gone more than three matches without losing once this season (Matchdays 6-9).

Probable line-ups

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) - Brunner, Ramos, Nilsson, Andrade - Kunze, Vasiliadis - Wimmer, Schöpf, Okugawa - Serra

Out: -

Doubtful: -

Coach: Frank Kramer

Stuttgart: Müller - Stenzel, Mavropanos, Anton, Ito - Endo (c), Karazor, Führich - Tomas, Kalajdzic, Marmoush

Out: Ahamada (toe), Didavi (Achilles), Egloff (back), Förster (not included), Nartey (knee), Silas (shoulder), Sosa (groin)

Doubtful: Sankoh (knee), Schock (knee)

Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo

About the clubs VfB Stuttgart

Mercedes-Benz Arena

Arminia Bielefeld

SchücoArena

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