Bundesliga Preview: Stuttgart Honored in Midweek Champions League Defeat, Borussia Dortmund’s Attack is Firing on All Cylinders

On September 22 at 23:30, the fourth round of the Bundesliga will see Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Stuttgart won 3-1 away against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the third round of the Bundesliga on September 14. The team lined up with Schubert and Chaisson-Henry as central defenders. Although this combination was worrying on paper, it held up well during the game and helped the team maintain their defense in the second half. Additionally, new striker Demirovic, who scored 15 goals and provided 9 assists for Augsburg last season, performed excellently against Mönchengladbach, scoring twice in the second half and securing his starting position for Stuttgart. Behind him, Swiss midfielder Fabian Rieder can also be a valuable assistant.

Currently, Stuttgart sits 11th in the Bundesliga table with one win, one draw, and one loss. They are two points behind the Europa League spots due to having played one less match. A win in this game could propel them into the top eight. In their 17 home games last season, Stuttgart, who finished as runners-up, achieved an impressive record of 13 wins, three draws, and one loss, averaging nearly three goals per game at home, showcasing formidable attacking power. In the first round of the midweek Champions League, Stuttgart lost 1-3 to Real Madrid, but coach Hannes said that his players had shown “courage” and performed very well.

In terms of squad selection, Belgian defender Edmilson, French defender Rouault, and Danish midfielder Nicolas Nartey may not be available for Stuttgart in this game. Young forward Justin Tille will be out until November due to a shoulder dislocation.

Borussia Dortmund defeated this season’s dark horse, SSV Jahn Regensburg, 4-2 at home in the previous league match. Main attacker Adeyemi displayed a strong offensive desire in the first half, contributing two goals and an assist within a short period, helping Dortmund establish an early lead. In the second half, Emre Can’s penalty sealed the victory. In the midweek Champions League match, Dortmund comfortably beat Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge 3-0 thanks to a stellar performance by substitute Gittens. This shows that under new coach Nuri Sahin, Dortmund’s attack has become smoother, and the substitutes have made significant contributions.

Currently, Dortmund sits fifth in the Bundesliga table with two wins and one draw. This season, they have a good chance of competing with Bayern Munich. Last season, in their 17 away league matches, Dortmund achieved 8 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses, which, while not as impressive as champions Bayer Leverkusen, still ranked among the top. However, in their three away matches this season, Dortmund only drew with Werder Bremen in the second round of the Bundesliga, while winning the other two matches easily.

In terms of squad selection, the only player missing for Dortmund in this game is American winger Reyna. New signings Janekuto and Girassy have returned in recent games. However, media predict that Dutch attacker Malen, who performed poorly in the midweek game, will start from the bench, with standout performer Gittens likely to start in his place.

In their past 20 encounters, Dortmund has dominated with 13 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses. In this round of the league, Dortmund will aim to continue their impressive attacking form to secure three points away, while Stuttgart will strive to defend their home honor. Will they succeed?

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