The Bundesliga returns this weekend after the third international break of the season, and the run to the winter break starts with an intriguing clash between Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon (14:30 GMT).
Team form
There is literally nothing to separate these two sides in the Bundesliga table ahead of this clash, with Dortmund and Stuttgart level on 21 points apiece.
The hosts of this weekend’s clash just edge out the visitors in third and fourth, thanks to a superior goal difference.
While the sides are level in points, how they got to where they are isn’t identical. Dortmund have won six, drawn three and lost just once, while Stuttgart have won seven and lost three.
It’s at home where BVB have been at their best, with four wins and a single draw against RB Leipzig. Stuttgart, meanwhile, have been a mixed bag on the road, winning twice and losing twice, including a 3-1 loss to Leipzig earlier this month.
Head-to-head
Dortmund have had a torrid time against Stuttgart in recent meetings. In fact, the visitors are on a five-game winning streak against the hosts.
The most damaging of those five losses for Dortmund came in the first meeting between the two sides last season, with Stuttgart running out 5-1 winners at the MHPArena.
With a 3-3 draw six games ago in 2023, you have to go back three years for Dortmund’s last victory over Stuttgart: A 5-0 victory spearheaded by Jude Bellingham in October 2022.
Team news
Dortmund boss Niko Kovac can prepare for this game without the headache of any significant injury concerns, as the out-of-favour Niklas Sule is the only player sidelined for the hosts.
The same can’t be said about Stuttgart. Sebastian Hoeneß could be missing up to six players for the 800 km round-trip across Germany.
That includes Ermedin Demirovic, who scored three goals and provided one assist in six games before picking up a foot injury last month, and Swiss centre-back Luca Jaquez, who is absent with a groin injury.
Key stats
Both sides are almost equally matched on the goalscoring front, with Dortmund averaging 1.6 goals per game this season and Stuttgart averaging 1.7.
BVB are stronger defensively than the visitors, conceding on average 0.7 goals per game compared to Stuttgart’s 1.2.
Serhou Guirassy has been Dortmund’s dangerman again this season, scoring five goals and providing one assist in nine appearances.
Stuttgart’s scoring efforts have been more of a collective, with Deniz Undav, Tiago Tomas and Bilal El Khannous joint-top scorers for the side with three goals apiece.
Prediction
While there’s nothing to separate these two sides mathematically in the Bundesliga table, Borussia Dortmund should have the upper hand in this clash and a great chance to end a barren spell against Stuttgart.
Their home form has been impressive this season, and they should be strong enough both in attack and defence to pick up a seventh win of the campaign in front of the famous Yellow Wall on Saturday afternoon.
