After the coming international break, Vfb Stuttgart is set to face its toughest competition yet in the first half of the 2024/25 season. Sebestian Hoeneß’s team has juggled life since the start of the season, equalizing at the death to see a point off their visitors, Hoffenheim in Sunday’s Bundesliga clash.
With nine points from six games (2 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss), they sit eight in the Bundesliga standings and twenty-fifth from winning just a point in the newly curated Champions League - League phase. It gets more demanding for Sebestian Hoeneß’s men who are threatened with the possibility of a potential exit from the UCL should they fail to perform and max up points to make it to the knockout phases. In the Bundesliga, a strong winning spell which included thrashing Borrussia Dortmund 5-1 has led to consecutive draws which have retarded their progress.
This article breaks down Stuttgart's upcoming challenges after the break and what each fixture presents to the German club.
Bayern Munich vs. Stuttgart - Saturday, 19th October, 17:30 (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Stuttgart would face their toughest opponent yet in the Bundesliga when they play Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich. Bayern Munich has thrashed every team (except Bayer Leverkusen) on their path to reclaiming the Bundesliga title this season.
Historically, Bayern Munich has dominated this fixture over the decade but has faced stern competition from Stuttgart. Earlier this year, in their previous encounter, Sebestian Hoeneß’s team got the better of Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in a disappointing 3-1 defeat on their road to the UCL qualification. Coming into this match in strong form, Stuttgart must be resilient defensively while looking to exploit Bayern’s occasional vulnerability with fast-paced counterattacks. Their biggest threats in the game include English striker Harry Kane, Micheal Olise, and Jamal Musiala (if available for the fixture).
Bayern’s possession dominance and their ability to press high will frustrate Stuttgart tactics, who would seek to build from the back. Their defense will have to be sharp to handle Bayern’s attacking trio, while they may have to rely on set-pieces and quick transitions to get the better of the Balverians. It will be a huge encounter, one Sebastian Hoeneß is preparing for.
Juventus vs. Stuttgart - Tuesday, 22nd October, 20:00 (Allianz Stadium, Turin)
Stuttgart immediately heads to Turin for another crucial game against Italian giants - Juventus, a fixture that promises to be highly competitive. Although not in their best form, the Italian side has remained unbeaten in all competitions this season, beating German team Leipzig in Gameweek 2 of the Champions League. Both teams are set to play their first official game against each other with no prior record of clashing in the past. Stuttgart will have to contend with Juventus’ balanced attacking and defending style, with Dusan Vlahovic being their key threat up front. Stuttgart’s ability to surprise big teams in recent seasons is well known and would not be underestimated by Thiago Motta’s team, who would likely dominate possession in their fortress - the Allianz Arena. Their quick transitions could catch the Italians off-guard. A draw is more likely, but winning all three points in the game could go a long way for Sebastian Hoeneß’s team.
Stuttgart vs. Holstein Kiel - Saturday, 26th October, 14:30 (Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart)
Stuttgart will look to get back to winning ways in the Bundesliga as they host Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga. The newcomers sit at the bottom of the table with just two points from six games. Stuttgart’s superior squad and home advantage should give them the advantage in the game, they have a record of getting comfortable victories while playing against newly promoted teams. Kiel’s strength lies in their ability to stay composed and frustrate their opponents.
Stuttgart vs. Kaiserslautern - Tuesday, 29th October, 19:45 (Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart)
Stuttgart welcomes Kaiserslautern in the second round of the DFB Cup. It would be a fierce encounter as both teams would be eager to advance to the later stages of the competition. Stuttgart has more quality and experienced players to win the game and advance to the next round ahead of Kaiserslautern, who currently play in the 2. Bundesliga. In their last DFB Cup meeting several years ago, Stuttgart secured victory against the determined side, and they will need to be cautious to get through them again.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Stuttgart - Friday, 1st November, 19:30 (BayArena, Leverkusen)
Stuttgart travels to the BayArena to take on defending Bundesliga champions - Bayer Leverkusen, one of their toughest encounters in the past series of the Bundesliga season. Xabi Alonso’s team went unbeaten in the League last season - the first German team to claim this honor.
Their last encounter in the 2023/24 season was closely contested, with Leverkusen grabbing a late equalizer to seal a 2-2 draw. Stuttgart will be wary of Leverkusen’s attacking options, particularly from Florian Wirtz, Victor Boniface, and Moussa Diaby. Their quick attacks are similar to Stuttgart's style of play. Sebestian Hoeneß would have much planning to do to keep out Xabi Alonso’s side from finding the back of the net. They need to exploit Leverkusen’s defensive lapses and make the most of their opportunities on the counterattack.
Stuttgart vs. Atalanta - Wednesday, 6th November, 20:00 (Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart)
Stuttgart returns to the Champions League with a home game against Italian side and UEFA Europa defending champions - Atalanta. This will be a crucial game as both sides compete to earn valuable points to qualify for the knockout stages. Sebastian Hoeneß’s team will have to be at their defensive best to win this game against a dominant Atlanta side. Stuttgart’s home advantage will be helpful. A win for either side would significantly increase their chances of progressing to the Knockout stages or settling in a Europa League position.
Two Stuttgart Players Making Waves Ahead of Their International Spells This October
Stuttgart’s Fabian Rieder is one of the three players nominated for the September Rookie of the Month award, an award last won by Nigeria’s Victor Boniface in the 2o23/24 season. The 22-year-old Swiss scored a goal in the past week and made it into the starting XI for Matchday 3. He was impressed by Stuttgart’s win against Gladbach, where he provided two assists. He won the most balls for the team after defender Maxixmillan Mittlestadt and has the third most shots on goal for the club this season.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kaua Santos and Bayer Munich’s new signing Micheal Olise are the other two nominees for September. The monthly winners receive one of the Bundesliga Rookie trophies and vie for the Rookie of the Season award. The voting process includes the fans (40%), Bundesliga clubs (30%), and a panel of Bundesliga experts (30%).
23-year-old Jamie Leweling got his first call-up to represent the German National in the coming international break. Julian Nagelsmann picked the talented attacker to his side for the games against Bosnia and Herzegovina following Jamal Musiala’s late injury. The Nuremberg-born attacker who started for the German Under-21 international team 11 times is a product of German local teams FC Schnaittach and SC Feucht. He joined Union Berlin in the 2022/23 season and made 16 appearances for Urs Fischer’s side UCL qualification, scoring just once in the Bundesliga season. Since his loan move to Stuttgart, he featured in every Bundesliga game last season and has evolved to become an integral part of Sebastian Hoeneß’s team. His four goals and six assists paved the way for Stuttgart’s return to the Champions League this season. Stuttgart permanently signed the attacker this summer and their future looks even brighter with a player of his quality in the top eleven.
Leweling is one of the six Stuttgart players in the current German senior team. He joins teammates; Alexander Nubel, Angelo Stiller, Deniz Undav, Chris Fuhrich, and Maximilian Mittelstadt in the former Bayern Munich coach squad.
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