Can Fürth come close again?
The second leg of the Bundesliga kicks off and things immediately get down to business in the bottom of the table. Fürth have only five points after the first half of the season and if they want to keep their dream of staying in the league alive, they need more points. And urgently so.
Before the match between Fürth and VfB Stuttgart, the odds of the betting companies show that the visitors are favoured. However, because Stuttgart also have problems, the situation is not quite as clear-cut as one might first assume.
It is clear that the Swabians see this game as an opportunity to distance themselves from a rival. In addition, a win could of course give them a boost and momentum. That is sorely needed. The game kicks off on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Fürth – Statistics & current form
The promotion was already a surprise, staying in the league would be a sensation. Greuther Fürth went into the Bundesliga season with these starting conditions. The Kleeblätter have also not shown much so far that could shake this basis. With five points, the hosts played the second-worst first half of the season in the history of the Bundesliga, and at times they made hair-raising individual mistakes that invited their opponents in again and again.
The statistics read devastatingly. No team has conceded more goals than Fürth (49), with Hertha BSC in second place with 35. Only one win from 17 games is already a clear sign, but with 14, they have five more defeats than the second-worst teams in this area.
So it comes as no surprise that, ahead of the Fürth vs. VfB Stuttgart match, the odds are pointing to a win for the visitors.
Fürth must improve in all sub-areas
There are problems at all corners and ends. In addition to the defence, which is weak, Fürth also has the weakest offence with only 13 goals. The hosts have not scored any of their goals outside the penalty area this season. There is no need for a big debate about form anyway, it is generally weak overall, although four of the five points came from the last three games before the winter break.
That is perhaps the only straw. With Stuttgart and Bielefeld at the start and at least small successes before the winter break, there is a mini hope for a slight turnaround. In professional football, Fürth also lost only one match against the visitors from Swabia.
Another small glimmer of hope could be that Stuttgart travels to Fürth with personnel worries and is also relatively vulnerable defensively. Therefore, before the match Fürth vs. VfB Stuttgart, our prediction is also that both teams will score.
Predicted line-up of Fürth:
Burchert – Meyerhöfer, Bauer, Viergever, Willems – Griesbeck, Seguin, Green – Leweling, Nielsen, Hrgota
Last matches played by Fürth:
1st Bundesliga
12/18 2021 – Greuther Fürth 0 – 0 Augsburg
12/15 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 3 – 0 Greuther Fürth
12/12 2021 – Greuther Fürth 1 – 0 Union Berlin
12/04 2021 – Bayer Leverkusen 7 – 1 Greuther Fürth
11/27 2021 – Greuther Fürth 3 – 6 Hoffenheim
VfB Stuttgart – Statistics & current form
Stuttgart went through a difficult first half of the season. Especially in terms of personnel, the Swabians had some difficulties. This is mainly due to the fact that many of the key players from the previous season were missing. Infections and, above all, long injury breaks gnawed at the team. The situation is not over yet, one or the other player is still missing. But there is hope, because striker Sasa Kalajdzic is back and perhaps fit for the starting eleven.
The Swabians have three infections and are missing a total of eight or nine players, which ultimately depends in the short term on whether Mo Sankoh still makes it into the squad. “We are investing everything to win the game. If we show our performance and go to our limits, then it will also be possible to get three points away from home,” coach Matarazzo said positively before the match.
Moreover, the opponent should not be underestimated under any circumstances. Even though Fürth is at the bottom of the table with only five points, Stuttgart, with 17 points and 16th place, is not a team that spreads fear and terror. Especially at the beginning, the visitors have to be careful, because no team allows more shots in the first half than VfB Stuttgart.
VfB Stuttgart want to improve offensively again
VfB Stuttgart failed to score in their last two games in 2021, the first time that had happened in the calendar year. In the 0:1 in Cologne shortly before the Christmas break, there were opportunities, but the callousness was missing. It comes in handy for the visitors that the worst defence in the league is now waiting as an opponent.
Less good is the fact that Stuttgart have only managed one win away from home so far. The Swabians are much better at home, but Matarazzo’s team has only scored six goals away from home so far. Kalajdzic, regardless of how long he plays, could become a huge bonus. Above all, his good understanding with Borna Sosa, the flank god of the Swabians, plays a role here.
That should give the team a boost. That’s also why our value tip before the Fürth vs. VfB Stuttgart match is that the visitors will win the game.
Predicted line-up of VfB Stuttgart:
Müller – Kempf, Anton, Ito – Massimo, Mangala, Endo, Sosa, Förster – Coulibaly, Kalajdzic
Last matches played by VfB Stuttgart:
1st Bundesliga
12/19 2021 – 1. FC Köln 1 – 0 VfB Stuttgart
12/14 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 0 – 5 Bayern Munich
12/11 2021 – Vfl Wolfsburg 0 – 2 VfB Stuttgart
12/05 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 2 – 2 Hertha Berlin
11/26 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 2 – 1 Mainz 05
Fürth – VfB Stuttgart Direct comparison / H2H-balance
In total, both teams have met 52 times in their history, but very many of these matches took place in the Oberliga Süd era before 1963. Overall, VfB Stuttgart has the lead with 29 victories, Fürth won only 15 games. In the Bundesliga, two of the previous three games went to the Swabians.
Fürth – VfB Stuttgart Tip
Fürth are not playing a good season and must try to collect points as quickly as possible to somehow still keep the class. The gap to the relegation place is already more than ten points and the statistics do not read well.
Overall, there is a lot to be said for the Swabians, with both defensive lines allowing something to happen, which means that an interesting game can be expected. Therefore, before the match Fürth against VfB Stuttgart, our tip is that both teams will score.
