Preview: Stuttgart vs. Bayern Munich - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts, meanwhile, head into the weekend's action outside of the relegation zone on goal difference only.

Match preview

Indeed, Stuttgart suffered their fourth defeat in their last five league games with a crushing 2-1 loss away to Schalke 04, who moved within three points of their opponents from the foot of the table in the process.

First half strikes from Dominick Drexler and Marius Bulter gave the hosts a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time, with Bruno Labbadia's side unable to complete a comeback despite Borna Sosa pulling one goal back three minutes after the hour mark at Veltins Arena.

Labbadia, who was appointed during the World Cup break to take charge of Die Schwaben for the second time in his managerial career, has not had the desired impact so far, collecting just five points from his seven league games.

While surviving relegation will be the 57-year-old's main priority for the rest of the campaign, he does have a real chance of winning his first trophy as a manager; only second division side FC Nurnberg stand in Stuttgart's way of reaching the final four of the DFB-Pokal, which they have not won since 1997.

In the meantime, the former Hertha Berlin boss will be casting his eye nervously over four difficult league games against top half opposition, starting with the reigning champions when they arrive at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday.

After falling to a surprising 3-2 defeat away to their bogey team Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern needed a response against title rivals Union Berlin last weekend, especially with the two sides heading into the encounter level on points.

Urs Fischer's side were duly brushed aside during a clinical first half performance from the Bavarians, with Eric Choupo-Moting, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala essentially ending the match before half-time as Bayern moved back above Borussia Dortmund on goal difference at the Bundesliga's summit.

With BVB hosting RB Leipzig on Friday evening, there is every chance that Bayern will find themselves chasing their fiercest rivals once again when they arrive into Stuttgart a day later, with Der Klassiker in the first match back after March's international break looking like being a potentially pivotal meeting in the title race.

Julian Nagelsmann will also be hoping that his side can hold onto their 1-0 lead against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with the French champions visiting the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening as both teams look to book their place in the last eight of Europe's elite competition.

In the meantime, though, Nagelsmann will be keen for his players to focus on one game at a time, especially with them not being able to afford too many slip ups having already dropped points in nine of their league games this season.

Stuttgart Bundesliga form:

D

L

L

L

W

L

Stuttgart form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

L

Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:

D

D

W

W

L

W

Bayern Munich form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

L

W

Team News

Stuttgart will be without their goalscorer from last weekend, with Sosa picking up his fifth caution of the season during his side's defeat to Schalke. Hiroki Ito could shift across to left-back, with Dan-Axel Zagadou coming into the heart of the hosts' defence.

Serhou Guirassy, Florian Muller and Pascal Stenzel all remain doubtful due to existing injury problems, with Labbadia likely to err on the side of caution with the trio considering the unlikelihood of his side gaining a positive result against the Bavarians.

Bayern, meanwhile, welcomed Sadio Mane back to action during the second half of their victory against Union Berlin, with the Senegal forward making his first appearance since sustaining a knee injury in November, which ended his hopes of appearing at his second World Cup for his country.

Joao Cancelo has only been used from the bench in each of his side's last two matches after picking up a minor knock during the first leg against PSG, and the defender - who joined on loan from Manchester City in January - may be spared for the second leg on Tuesday.

Leroy Sane will expect to be restored to the starting XI, though, with Thomas Muller potentially rested ahead of his experience being required against the Parisians next week.

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Bredlow; Anton, Mavropanos, Zagadou, Ito; Endo, Karazor, Haraguchi; Gil, Silas, Fuhrich

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Choupo-Moting

We say: Stuttgart 0-3 Bayern Munich

Bayern may have one eye on their second leg against PSG on Tuesday, but they should still have far too much quality for struggling Stuttgart in the Bundesliga's Saturday night slot.

The Bavarians are being pushed hard by Dortmund at the top of the table, and they will be determined to keep ahead of their title rivals before facing them after the international break.

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