Stuttgart vs Hamburger SV preview

September 22, 2011
By: Frank Beresford

The opening game of round seven in German Bundesliga will see in-form Stuttgart play host to bottom-placed Hamburger.

Having entered the new Bundesliga campaign with virtually the same squad as last season, Stuttgart were expected to start the season brightly, but that did not happen.

After beating Schalke in their opening game, the Swabians picked up just one point from next three matches, hinting that they could be in for yet another disappointing season.

However, Bruno Labbadia’s side showed a lot of improvement after the international break, recording back to back wins over Hannover and Freiburg, so no wonder they are now just 1.60 (3/5) with Sportingbet to beat rock bottom Hamburger.

Rock-solid defence has been one of key reasons behind recent uptrend in fortunes and having conceded just one goal in last three home games, Stuttgart are 2.62 (13/8) with Paddy Power to keep a clean sheet in this game.

Mamadou Bah has resumed full training after a hand injury, and with no fresh injury worries, Bruno Labbadia is expected to field the same side that brought three points from Freiburg.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Ulreich – Boulahrouz, Tasci, Rodriguez, Molinaro – Kvist, Kuzmanovic – Harnik, Gentner, Okazaki – Cacau.

Having sold several key players without bringing proper replacements, Hamburger SV were always going to have problems this term, but nobody could have predicted the team would be sitting at rock bottom after six Bundesliga rounds.

Besides sharing spoils with Hertha at home, HSV lost all other league games this season, scoring just 6 and conceding 17 goals in the process.

The club chiefs had no choice but to sack coach Michael Oenning, before appointing Rodolfo Cardoso as interim boss.

The new coach faces an uphill task of trying to help the players restore some of the lost confidence after four straight defeats, with the away game against in-form Stuttgart hardly a perfect opportunity for HSV to return to winning ways.

Paulo Guerrero and Gojko Kacar remain injury doubts, while Dennis Diekmeier and Michael Mancienne are definitely out.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Drobny – Bruma, Westermann, Rajkovic, Aogo – Rincon, Tesche – Son, Skjelbred, Jansen – Petric.

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