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

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Marmoush ended a four-match injury absence to start last week as Stuttgart ended a five-game wait for a league win with their 2-1 victory over Mainz, giving coach Pellegrino Matarazzo some breathing space as his side moved out of the bottom three and to within a point of their Matchday 14 opponents. Silas Katompa Mvumpa returned last weekend following a seven-month injury lay-off, but he remains short of the required fitness to start. Chris Führich is out, while forward Sasa Kalajdzic has returned to training, but is not expected to regain full fitness from a dislocated shoulder until the start of 2022.

With Hertha just a point above the relegation play-off place following the 1-1 draw with Augsburg, Pal Dardai was removed from his position giving Korkut a way back into the game since his nine-month spell at Stuttgart in 2018. Over the last four matches, Hertha have picked up just two points, though they would have claimed a first league victory since Matchday 9 had Michael Gregoritsch not grabbed a 97th-minute equaliser for Augsburg on Matchday 13. Lukas Klünter remains on the sidelines following shoulder surgery while Marton Dardai — son of Pal — misses the game with a muscle injury sustained in the warm-up last weekend. Captain Dedryck Boyata is available after serving a three-game suspension while Vladimir Darida and Stevan Jovetic are both back to full fitness.

Match stats

Borna Sosa is fresh off adding a first goal to his 14 assists in 51 Bundesliga appearances.

Silas is in line to make his 60th competitive appearance for Stuttgart. He scored his last of 11 Bundesliga goals on 20 January.

Stuttgart's three wins this Bundesliga season have all come at home.

Marco Richter scored his team-leading third Bundesliga goal of the season last time out. Seven is his career-best return of single campaign (2018/19).

Korkut oversaw 22 matches as Stuttgart coach between February and October 2018 (W10, D6, L6).

Hertha are winless in their last five trips to Stuttgart, and have won just five of 34 Bundesliga matches at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Probable line-ups

Stuttgart: Müller - Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf - Massimo, Endo (c), Karazor, Mangala, Sosa - Förster, Marmoush

Out: Bredlow (thigh), Führich (not included), Kalajdzic (shoulder), Millot (knee), Sankoh (knee), Thommy (pelvis)

Doubtful: Ahamada (match fitness)

Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark, Boyata (c), Plattenhardt - Richter, Ascacibar, Serdar, Mittelstädt - Piatek, Jovetic

Out: M. Dardai (muscular), Jarstein (knee), Klünter (shoulder)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Tayfun Korkut