Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 23/50
Bookmaker: ZetBet
A high-stakes Bundesliga showdown awaits at the MHPArena on Saturday as Stuttgart host reigning champions Bayern Munich in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
The Swabians are battling through a mounting injury crisis yet remain in solid form, while the Bavarians have shown defensive frailties of late—though they still sit comfortably atop the table.
Stuttgart
Balancing commitments across league, cup, and Europe has stretched Stuttgart’s resources thin, with injuries piling up as the winter break approaches. Despite these setbacks, Sebastian Hoeness’s side have produced impressive results, winning four of their last six matches, with just one defeat in that run.
That solitary loss came last weekend against newly-promoted Hamburger SV—a shock result that ended their four-game unbeaten streak. However, Stuttgart responded in midweek with a 2-0 DFB-Pokal victory at VfL Bochum, rotating key players to preserve fitness.
Now, Hoeness will aim to challenge the league leaders and avenge August’s Super Cup defeat to Bayern.
Team News
Stuttgart’s injury list remains lengthy. Ermedin Demirovic is still sidelined with a foot problem, while Justin Diehl (ankle) and Luca Jaquez (muscle) are unavailable.
Yannik Keitel continues to battle a thigh issue, and Dan-Axel Zagadou also misses out with a muscle injury.
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, particularly at the back. The champions have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches in all competitions, conceding 11 goals during that spell. Two of those came in Wednesday’s 3-2 DFB-Pokal win over Union Berlin, which secured their place in the next round.
Despite defensive concerns, Bayern remain eight points clear of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga and boast a formidable attacking record, scoring 44 goals in the league so far.
A win on Saturday would guarantee their position at the summit heading into the New Year, and recent history favors them strongly—they’ve won their last three meetings with Stuttgart.
Team News
Bayern are still without two marquee names. Alphonso Davies is nearing a return from a knee injury, while Jamal Musiala is close to recovering from a fractured calf bone.
Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic is a minor doubt. The unstoppable Harry Kane, with 28 goals from 26 matches in all competitions to his name, is expected to lead the attacking line, supported by the inspired trio of Michael Olise, Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry.
Conclusion
Bayern’s defensive lapses offer Stuttgart hope of finding the net, but the visitors’ attacking firepower should prove decisive. There’s a very good reason why they average almost four goals scored per game in the Bundesliga this season, and why they’re eight points clear at the top of the table after 12 rounds already.
Expect goals at both ends, but Kompany’s men shouldn’t have too many problems on their way to collecting all three points.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 23/50
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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