VfB Stuttgart-FC Nurnberg Preview Match

March 25, 2012 4:30 PM BST
RheinEnergieStadion — Köln

Team News

VfB Stuttgart

Gotoku Sakai could switch to the right side to replace the injured Khalid Boulahrouz, meaning Arthur Boka could start at left-back. Shinji Okazaki will miss several weeks due to injury. Julian Schieber could replace him on the left wing. Cacau could replace the suspended Vedad Ibisevic up front in this game.

probable lineups : Ulreich, Boka, Niedermeier, Maza, Sakai, Kuzmanovic, Kvist, Schieber, Hajnal, Harnik, Cacau. (4-2-3-1). 

16 Mar 2012	TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1 - VfB Stuttgart 2
9 Mar 2012	VfB Stuttgart 0 - Kaiserslautern 0
3 Mar 2012	Hamburger SV 0 - VfB Stuttgart 4
25 Feb 2012	VfB Stuttgart 4 - SC Freiburg 1
19 Feb 2012	Hannover 96 4 - VfB Stuttgart 2

Nurnberg

Markus Feulner could start out of position at right-back again, allowing Timothy Chandler to start in midfield. Manager Hecking could field an unchanged team. 

probable lineups : Schäfer, Feulner, Maroh, Wollscheid, Hlousek, Simons, Balitsch, Chandler, Didavi, Esswein, Pekhart. (4-2-3-1). 

 

17 Mar 2012	FC Nürnberg 1 - VfL Wolfsburg 3
10 Mar 2012	FSV Mainz 05 2 - FC Nürnberg 1
4 Mar 2012	FC Nürnberg 1 - B. Mönchengladbach 0
25 Feb 2012	Werder Bremen 0 - FC Nürnberg 1
18 Feb 2012	FC Nürnberg 2 - FC Köln 1

 

Head to Head

Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎	22 Oct 2011	1. FC Nürnberg 2 - VfB Stuttgart 2
Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎	12 Feb 2011	VfB Stuttgart 1 - 1. FC Nürnberg 4
Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎	22 Sep 2010	1. FC Nürnberg 2 - VfB Stuttgart 1
Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎	6 Feb 2010	1. FC Nürnberg 1 - VfB Stuttgart 2
Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎	29 Aug 2009	VfB Stuttgart 0 - 1. FC Nürnberg 0

 

Prediction

After four games without a loss, Stuttgart are eighth in the table and still in a good position to challenge for a European spot. It remains to be seen how they will do without Boulahrouz and Ibisevic in this match, though. Nürnberg had a good run before losing twice in a row and a in a rather comfortable mid-table position at the moment. A result against Stuttgart would further eliminate relegation worries.

Expect Stuttgart to try to control the game at home. Nürnberg will start patiently and rely on their solid defence.

VfB Stuttgart  1 - 1  Nurnberg