VfB Stuttgart vs. SC Freiburg preview: Top-four push continues in Schwaben-Baden clash | OneFootball

Stuttgart

Stuttgart welcome their South German neighbours after both sides secured their Europa League progression on Thursday, though Die Schwaben have been condemned to the play-offs due to results elsewhere.

Back in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart are unbeaten since their heavy 5-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in December, with their most recent three points coming via a 3-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach last time out. 

Home form has been a major pillar of their campaign thus far, with VfB losing just once at home this season. They will be looking to get one over their neighbours after falling to a 3-1 defeat in Breisgau back in September.

Team news

Things have eased on the injury front for Sebastian Hoeneß in recent weeks, with Dan-Axel Zagadou and Tiago Tomas the only pair still sidelined from issues over the new year. 

Bilal El Khannouss was welcomed back via a substitute appearance on Thursday, and could start this weekend. 

Predicted lineup - 4-2-3-1: Nübel - Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor, Stiller - Leweling, El Khannouss, Führich - Undav

Freiburg

Stuttgart supporters will tell you that this weekend’s clash is categorically not a derby - that couldn’t be further from the truth for the Freiburg contingent. 

Visiting their neighbours from the other side of the Baden-Schwaben border, Julian Schuster's side will be aiming to repeat their September exploits. Though it must be noted that Die Breisgauer fell to a 4-0 defeat on their last visit to Neckarstadion, after opening the 2024/25 campaign with a 3-1 home win against Stuttgart. 

Despite losing to Lille on Thursday, Freiburg secured an automatic pathway to the round of 16 thanks to five wins from eight.

Though away form does remain a concern, with Freiburg losing four of their last seven on their travels - winning just one in this time period.

Team news

Phillip Lienhart is expected to return to the fold in the coming weeks, alongside long-term absentee Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who has not played a minute of football since 2023.

Predicted lineup - 4-2-3-1: Atubolu - Treu, Ginter, Rosenfelder, Günter - Eggestein, Manzambi - Beste, Suzuki, Scherhant - Höler