Preview: Stuttgart vs. Borussia Monchengladbach - prediction, team news, lineups

Stuttgart require all three points against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday if they are to stand a chance of moving outside of the Bundesliga's relegation places.

Gladbach, meanwhile, are aiming to record only their second league victory on the road all season.

Match preview

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Sebastian Hoeness remains unbeaten in his four matches in charge since replacing Bruno Labbadia in Stuttgart's managerial dugout earlier this month, with Wataru Endo snatching a point for his side late on against Augsburg last weekend.

Die Schwaben had trailed to their relegation rivals from the eighth minute after Dion Drena Beljo's early strike at the WWK Arena, but the visitors controlled the match thereafter through 62% possession, restricting the hosts to only four shots across the course of the encoutner.

As such, Endo's 78th-minute equaliser was clearly a richly deserved one, and it ensured that VfL Bochum, Hoffenheim and Augsburg all remain within five points of Hoeness's side with five games of the league campaign remaining.

Indeed, it is clearly a pivotal week in Stuttgart's season, with a semi-final tie against Eintracht Frankfurt awaiting them on Wednesday, before they travel to the capital to take on relegation rivals Hertha Berlin next weekend.

Hoeness will be determined for his players to capitalise on a winnable home match against Gladbach, then, particularly given Daniel Farke's side's wretched form on the road and potentially minimal motivation with little for them to play for.

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The former Norwich City boss is unlikely to view things through that prism, of course, especially as he may be fighting for his job unless results and performances both considerably improve in the closing weeks of the season.

After finishing 10th in Adi Hutter's first and only campaign at the club last time out, Gladbach would have been hoping to kick on and challenge for the European qualification spots under Farke's tutelage, but that has rarely appeared to be a realistic aspiration with results remaining inconsistent.

Only the Bundesliga's top five teams possess a superior home record compared to Gladbach this season, yet only the bottom four sides in the division have an inferior away record. It is clear where the major problem has lied, then, with Farke unable to shake off the Jekkyl and Hyde feeling around the club.

However, they have taken two points from their most recent two trips to Cologne and Frankfurt, suggesting that they have every chance of claiming a positive result against Stuttgart on Saturday providing their 1-0 defeat to Union Berlin last weekend has not eroded any lingering confidence left at the club.

Team News

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Stuttgart will be without Hiroki Ito after the Japan defender received his fifth yellow card of the season against Augsburg, but Konstantinos Mavropanos is available once again after serving his own suspension and should slot straight back into the hosts' back three.

Nicolas Nartey is still out with a stomach problem, but otherwise Hoeness appears to have a fully-fit squad at his disposal, with Silas likely to replace Enzo Millot in the offensive unit.

Gladbach, meanwhile, will travel without Ramy Bensebaini and star striker Marcus Thuram due to hip and groin injuries respectively sustained against Union Berlin. Both players are out of contract in the summer and will leave the club on free transfers.

Tony Jantschke and Yvandro Borges Sanches have also both been ruled out due to knee and ankle issues respectively, with Farke likely to call upon Luca Netz and Alassane Plea to his starting XI.

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Bredlow; Mavropanos, Anton, Zagadou; Vagnoman, Endo, Karazor, Sosa; Silas, Fuhrich; Guirassy

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz; Weigl, Kone; Hofmann, Kramer, Stindl; Plea

We say: Stuttgart 2-1 Borussia Monchengladbach

Although Gladbach clearly possess some talented players at their disposal, Stuttgart could hardly have asked for a more winnable fixture as they desperately seek to avoid finishing in the bottom three positions.

Die Fohlen have been wretched on the road all season long and have very little beyond personal pride to play for at this stage of the season, so we expect Hoeness's improved outfit to claim all three points ahead of their cup semi-final tie in midweek.

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