VfB Stuttgart will host St. Pauli at MHPArena on Friday evening as the Bundesliga's fourth matchday begins, with Stuttgart eager to improve their disappointing start to the season.
Stuttgart, under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, is experiencing their worst opening to a Bundesliga campaign since the 2022/23 season, which ended in a 16th-place finish and relegation playoff. After a narrow victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach before the international break, Stuttgart led Freiburg for over an hour last weekend but ultimately lost, conceding three goals in the final 12 minutes.
The team has struggled defensively, allowing nine goals in their last four competitive matches, including a chaotic DFB-Pokal tie against Eintracht Braunschweig. Additionally, a lack of creativity in the attacking third poses a significant challenge for Hoeneß as Europa League commitments approach.
In terms of team news, Deniz Undav is sidelined with a knee injury and is not expected to return until October. Silas is also unavailable due to an ankle issue, while Justin Diehl is recovering from a muscle injury. Fabian Bredlow is nearing fitness but will likely not feature on Friday.
The predicted lineup for Stuttgart is a 4-2-3-1 formation: Nübel - Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor, Stiller - Tomas, El Khannouss, Leweling - Demirovic.
In contrast, St. Pauli has had a strong start to the season. Under coach Alexander Blessin, the team achieved a remarkable 3-3 draw against Borussia Dortmund in their opening match, followed by a derby win against Hamburg and a 2-1 victory over Augsburg.
After a solid defensive campaign last season, Blessin has successfully added attacking depth, transforming St. Pauli into a more formidable opponent. Currently positioned in the top four, there is growing optimism among supporters, who are hopeful for a season beyond mere survival after finishing 14th last year.
For St. Pauli, Ricky-Jade Jones remains out due to a shoulder injury, and defender David Nemeth is still recovering from a groin issue. Jackson Irvine has returned to the bench after a foot problem and is available for selection.
The predicted lineup for St. Pauli is a 3-4-1-2 formation: Vasilj - Wahl, Smith, Dzwigala - Saliakas, Sands, Fujita, Oppie - Sinani - Hountondji, Pereira Lage.
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