Good and bad news: how will HSV's defence look v Stuttgart? | OneFootball

Ahead of the difficult away match at VfB Stuttgart, HSV’s concerns are growing. They relate in particular to the defense.

Especially bitter: defensive leader and mega talent Luka Vuskovic is according to a Bild report at risk of missing out. The 19-year-old, who has quickly developed into a key player since joining from Tottenham Hotspur, has been unable to train over the past two days due to a knee bruise.

His possible absence would be a major setback, because since matchday three the Croatian has been a fixture in defense, giving the back three stability and structure. Vuskovic also delivered a spotless performance against FC Augsburg (1:1).

Photo: IMAGO

HSV: Capaldo is back in training!

But at least there is some good news: with Jordan Torunarigha, a solid replacement is available. In the 1:1 against Mainz, when Vuskovic was suspended, he already showed that he can take on the central role. His experience could be especially valuable against Stuttgart’s concentrated attacking power. On the right, Warmed Omari is a nailed-on starter anyway. So there is at least some degree of consistency here.

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The left side, on the other hand, is becoming a problem area. If Vuskovic is unavailable, Daniel Elfadli is likely to move into the starting lineup. After two games on the bench and a weaker spell before that, he would have the chance to prove himself again. Alternatively, Nicolas Capaldo is available, having returned to training on Thursday after a multi-week injury layoff. However, a place in the starting XI would probably come too soon.

In addition, the absence of Miro Muheim following his red card further worsens the already tense personnel situation in defense. One possible solution: William Mikelbrencis moves over to the left side, while Giorgi Gocholeishvili or Bakery Jatta operate on the right flank.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.