Preview: Stuttgart vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Stuttgart claimed a solid 1-1 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, while the Wolves were held at home by Union Berlin.

Match preview

Having lost their previous two matches, Bruno Labbadia would almost certainly have snatched someone's hand off if they had offered him a point from their trip to Frankfurt last time out.

That would have been even more of the case when Sebastian Rode broke the deadlock for the hosts five minutes before the hour mark, with Silas rescuing a point for his side 20 minutes later.

However, with VfL Bochum surprisingly beating FC Koln away from home, a draw was not enough to prevent Stuttgart from falling into the relegation playoff spot. Having avoided that position on goal difference last season, Labbadia will be determined to finish 15th or upwards at the end of the campaign.

As such, home matches against teams without realistic aspirations of competing in next season's Champions League take on added significance for Die Schwaben, who must target all three points this weekend.

Indeed, Wolfsburg have won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions, with Niko Kovac's side falling to eighth in the table as a result.

Successive home draws against Frankfurt and Union Berlin - two teams above them in the table - has certainly been no disaster in recent weeks, with Patrick Wimmer's strike six minutes from time cancelling out Josip Juranovic's dispatched penalty for the visitors.

Whether seventh spot proves enough to qualify for next season's Europa Conference League will depend on which team triumphs in the DFB-Pokal, with Mainz 05 currently one point ahead of Wolfsburg in that position, and Frankfurt five points clear in a guaranteed European spot in sixth.

After starting slowly in his first few months in charge, though, Kovac will almost certainly be more than satisfied with his side's progress throughout the season. A win on Saturday would certainly help improve the complexion of their campaign, which could easily peter out if the former Croatia international and his players are not careful.

Stuttgart Bundesliga form:

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Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

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Team News

Stuttgart are set to remain without Serhou Guirassy due to his tendon injury, while Pascal Stenzel (thigh) and Dan-Axel Zagadou (ankle) are not expected to return until after the upcoming international break.

Enzo Millot and Lilian Egloff have been suffering with illness in recent days but both should be available to make the matchday squad, with Labaddia almost certain to restore Silas to his starting XI after the winger snatched a point for his side from the substitutes' bench last time out.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, will travel without Bartol Franjic due to a muscle injury, but otherwise Kovac appears to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

Lukas Nmecha has appeared from the bench in recent weeks and the Germany forward may have to settle for a late cameo once again, with his manager likely to be easing him into action before unleashing him from April onwards.

However, Wimmer may come into the attack after scoring a crucial goal from the bench against Union Berlin, with either Jonas Wind or Omar Marmoush potentially making way.

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Bredlow; Anton, Mavropanos, Ito, Sosa; Endo, Karazor, Haraguchi; Silas, Tomas, Fuhrich

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:

Casteels; Fischer, Bornauw, Van De Ven, Otavio; Svanberg, Arnold, Gerhardt; Baku, Wind, Wimmer

We say: Stuttgart 1-1 Wolfsburg

Neither of these teams are strangers to drawing matches this season, with one third of their league games ending as a stalemate so far this campaign, including both last weekend.

As such, we can envisage a share of the spoils at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday, with the hosts having to fight for every point that they can collect between now and the end of the season.

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