Stuttgart will continue their pursuit of Champions League qualification when they welcome Heidenheim to the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Sunday.
Sebastian Hoeness's side remain set for a comfortable top-four finish, just 12 months after only escaping relegation thanks to a playoff win over Hamburg.
Match preview
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After losing their first two games of 2024, Stuttgart have been irresistible in the Bundesliga, taking 22 points from a possible 24.
This next encounter provides Stuttgart with the opportunity to go nine league matches unbeaten for the first time in 12 years, after they thrashed Hoffenheim 3-0 away from home shortly before the international break.
Successfully shutting out Hoffenheim also saw Stuttgart record back-to-back Bundesliga clean sheets for the first time since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2020.
For a side that got just 33 points last season, and only avoided relegation thanks to the playoffs, their tally of 56 this time around is scarcely believable.
Sitting in third, Stuttgart have a healthy seven-point gap over RB Leipzig in fifth, and it is still not beyond possibility that the whole of the top five will earn Champions League places thanks to the coefficient.
Upcoming opponents Heidenheim are one of the sides who have beaten Die Schwaben this season though, winning 2-0 in the reverse back in November.
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Shortly after that success, Heidenheim then went on an eight-game unbeaten run between December and February, swiftly ending any fears of an instant relegation back to the 2. Bundesliga.
Since that impressive streak ended though, Heidenheim have taken just two points from five games - losing against Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg.
Only for Eren Dinkci's second-half equaliser salvaging a point against Borussia Monchengladbach last time out, it could have been four defeats from five for Frank Schmidt's men.
The threat of relegation remains almost non-existent though, as the Bundesliga debutants remain 10 points above the bottom three heading into the weekend.
Team News
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Stuttgart's sensational recent form has coincided partially with the return of Serhou Guirassy from injury, as the club's top scorer has netted five in five to take his tally in the league to 22 this season.
The hosts remain without numerous first-team options though, with the likes of Nikolas Nartey, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Anthony Rouault all out injured.
Atakan Karazor, Enzo Millot and Fabian Bredlow have all been suffering with illness during the break, but the trio could be in line for returns to the squad this weekend.
Heidenheim are set to be without one of their most important attacking outlets, as Jan-Niklas Beste is currently sidelined with a groin issue.
Beste has contributed to 15 league goals in his debut top-flight season and may join the likes of Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj on the treatment table.
Elsewhere, Lennard Maloney (knee) and Adrian Beck (ankle) also remain doubtful for the visitors ahead of the weekend's clash, with a late decision to be made on the pair.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Anton, Ito, Mittelstadt; Millot, Stiller, Karazor, Fuhrich; Guirassy, Undav
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Maloney, Schoppner, Pieringer; Dinkci, Kleindienst, Dovedan
We say: Stuttgart 3-1 Heidenheim
With Guirassy back and firing again, Stuttgart have proven impossible to stop since late-January, and they will be out for revenge after losing the reverse encounter.
Heidenheim's form has tailed off of late, but even if they do fall to another defeat here, that should not take any shine off what has been a superb first season at this level.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
