How will VfL cope without Köster?

The Handball Bundesliga is only a few games old, but it is already clear that it will be an extremely exciting season. The championship could be more open than ever. However, the same applies to the relegation battle. It is already clear that every single point is important. This could also be the motto of the game we are dedicating ourselves to in our TVB Stuttgart vs. Gummersbach tip.

The Swabians could face a difficult season. After three games, they have one win and two losses. 2:4 points are currently enough for 14th place. Perhaps the team from Bittenfeld will have to rely on at least two teams performing even worse this season. At least the squad should have enough quality to stay above the red zone.

These are spheres that VfL Gummersbach wants nothing to do with and probably never will. The club from the Oberberg region, which is making its comeback in the European League this season, has only two points from four games. Thanks to a slightly better goal difference, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson’s team are in twelfth place. Nevertheless, the visitors travel to the Porsche Arena as clear favorites.

We also think that the forecast for the game between TVB Stuttgart and Gummersbach should be an away victory. The odds in the Oddset app even leave little doubt that VfL will take the two points. However, it should not be forgotten that Gummersbach has had to cope with two very serious injuries.

TVB Stuttgart – Statistics & current form

There has been a certain fluctuation in the Bittenfelder squad, but overall, the quality of the squad has hardly changed. The departure of keeper Silvio Heinevetter should be compensated for. If Lenny Rubin, the new signing from Wetzlar, can become the key player in Stuttgart that they are hoping for, then they can at least hope to get through the season without any major concerns.

A difficult start to the season for TVB

But the start of the season was really tough. The season opener in Leipzig ended in a bitter 24:33 defeat. A week later, the team was beaten at home by 14 goals against the title contenders from Flensburg. The anticipation of the new season was initially gone for the bottom team. At least Michael Schweikardt’s team turned things around last weekend.

Last Friday, the Swabians had to travel to HC Erlangen in Franconia. For long stretches, it looked like it would be the third defeat in the third game. It was an even game until the break. But Erlangen was four goals ahead at 24:20 midway through the second half. With a grandiose show of strength, however, the Swabians managed to win the game with luck and skill, 26:25.

This game certainly provides strength, courage and optimism. The coach sees it the same way. With the first victory in the new season, the Swabians can now hope to follow up on Wednesday. However, we think that the task will now be much more difficult, despite the home field advantage. That’s why we’re looking at the odds for a guest victory between TVB Stuttgart and Gummersbach.

Predicted TVB Stuttgart line-up:
Krivokapic, Vujovic – Bacani, Fernandez, K. Häfner, Ivankovic, Laube, Pribetic, Reguart, Röthlisberger, Rubin, Schottle, Serrano, Toskas, Zieker – Head Coach: Schweikardt

VfL Gummersbach – Statistics & current form

VfL Gummersbach have made great strides since returning to the Bundesliga two years ago. After finishing tenth in the 2022/23 season, they came sixth last season and even made it back into the European Cup. In addition, some notable transfers have been made that even allow the club from the Oberberg region to dream of an even better placement than in the previous year.

Strong start to the season, then a slump in form

Kentin Mahe, Teitur Einarsson or Dominik Kuzmanovic have proven their class multiple times in recent years. In addition, all key players have remained with the traditional club. Consequently, Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson’s team got off to a perfect start to the season. Between the two playoff victories against Danish representatives Mors-Thy Handbold in the European League, there was a successful start to the Bundesliga with a 32-28 win in Hannover.

Meanwhile, there is not much left of this former euphoria. First, there was an unexpected defeat at home against TBV Lemgo and last weekend, VfL suffered its next defeat at the University of Physical Culture in Leipzig. But what was even worse than the defeat in Saxony was the bad news about the players that VfL brought home with them.

Captain and international Julian Köster, one of the club’s figureheads and top performers, tore a ligament in his knee and will probably be out for several months. In addition, Teitur Einarsson from Iceland, who came from Flensburg in the summer, has a torn plantar fascia. He will be out for at least a few weeks.

Predicted line-up for Gummersbach:
Kuzmanovic, Obling – Blohme, Haseler, Horzen, Kodrin, Mahe, Pregler, Schluroff, Tskhovrebadze, Vidarsson, Vujovic, Zeman – Coach: Sigurdsson

TVB Stuttgart – VfL Gummersbach Head-to-head / H2H record

When TVB Stuttgart and VfL Gummersbach faced each other on the court, it was in the Bundesliga. The two clubs have not yet met in other competitions. Six years together in the top division currently means twelve matches in the history books. VfL Gummersbach are ahead 7-4 in terms of wins. One game ended in a draw.

VfL Gummersbach has won three of the last four games against Bietigheim. Last season, both matches were even won by the team from the Oberberg region. VfL won the first leg in Stuttgart 31:29. In the second leg in March of this year, it was then very clear. In the 35:27 home victory, Gummersbach even won by eight goals.

TVB Stuttgart – VfL Gummersbach Tip

The Stuttgart team had a difficult start to the season with the matches against Leipzig and Flensburg and, as expected, had to accept two clear defeats. They only just avoided a third defeat against Erlangen. The fact that the Swabians turned this match around in the final phase should give them a boost for the upcoming tasks.

Gummersbach got off to a strong start to the season, but then conceded two defeats. In addition, two important players, Julian Köster and Teitur Einarsson, have dropped out due to injuries. However, we think that the quality is still sufficient and would therefore use a Sunmaker bonus to place a bet on an away win between TVB Stuttgart and Gummersbach.

We expect VfL to get back on track with a now-more-than-ever effect to score double on Wednesday. However, we do not expect a very high away win. However, we do think a small handicap is still possible. We have decided to remain modest with our bet and are therefore increasing the betting odds for an away win in the match between TVB Stuttgart and Gummersbach.