Borussia Dortmund celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Westfalenstadion by hosting Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
In an important encounter in the race for Champions League qualification, these two are in the box seat to claim a top-four spot, but RB Leipzig are waiting to pounce if either slip up.
Match preview
© Reuters
There was a huge swing in the battle for fourth last weekend, as Dortmund took advantage of Leipzig dropping points to move clear.
After Marco Rose's men surprisingly only drew 0-0 to Mainz at home, Dortmund then beat Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker at the Allianz Arena, with Karim Adeyemi and Julian Ryerson goals moving them three points clear of Leipzig.
Winning at the Allianz for the first in a decade in a league encounter also saw Edin Terzic's side record a fifth straight victory in all competitions.
This weekend's clash now provides BVB with the opportunity to close the gap on third-place Stuttgart and would also be great preparation for their Champions League quarter-final away to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
The win over Bayern closed the gap to four points, because Stuttgart then failed to get the better of Heidenheim on Sunday, drawing 3-3 despite leading 2-0.
© Reuters
Even though Sebastian Hoeness's side threw away a two-goal lead though, they were still fortunate to take anything, as they needed a 98th-minute strike from Deniz Undav to salvage a point.
That saw them miss the chance to close the gap on Bayern to just one point, and Dortmund are now in hot pursuit behind them, as the gap could be just one point between these two by the end of the weekend.
With an arduous schedule to finish the season, Stuttgart must ensure they do not stutter at the worst possible time, as their final seven games see them face Dortmund, Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen.
Hoeness has already masterminded two wins over Terzic this season though, both on home soil, in the league and cup, and another success here will all but guarantee Champions League qualification next season.
Goals are in store too, as this fixture has been notorious for high-scoring affairs, especially in Dortmund, as the hosts won 5-0 here last season, but Stuttgart stunned the footballing world with a 5-1 win away in 2020.
Team News
© Reuters
Ramy Bensebaini's season is over after the Dortmund full-back picked up a knee injury on Algeria duty last month, and this game will come too soon for Donyell Malen, who is still nursing a thigh issue.
Gregor Kobel is available again though after a stomach problem and should replace Maximilian Meyer in goal for the hosts.
Marcel Sabitzer will also return for Dortmund after he missed the win over his former club due to suspension last weekend.
Stuttgart will be without important defender Waldemar Anton due to suspension, and former Dortmund man Dan-Axel Zagadou is also absent with a serious knee injury.
Undav and Serhou Guirassy are set to start up front after beating a club record for league goals scored by an attacking duo in the draw with Heidenheim, taking their combined tally to 38, one better than what Jurgen Klinsmann and Karl Allgower managed in the 1985-86 season.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Bynoe-Gittens
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Stergiou, Ito, Mittelstadt; Millot, Dahoud, Stiller, Fuhrich; Guirassy, Undav
We say: Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Stuttgart
Dortmund will be keen for revenge against a Stuttgart side that has already beaten them twice this season, and they look set to extend their winning run to six ahead of the trip to Madrid in midweek.
Both teams have scored in 24 of the last 33 meetings, and the previous 22 encounters have produced a whopping 90 goals, so a thrilling encounter is likely.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
