After a successful start to the year in the Bundesliga, VfB aims to carry this momentum into the critical phase of the Champions League.
The VfB machine is up and running. Undav and Leweling are back, Demirovic is finding the net again, Al-Dakhil is finally available, and the defense is more stable. If Zagadou eventually gets fit, the woes of the first half of the season will be a thing of the past. VfB Stuttgart is now back in a Champions League spot after thrashing their smaller neighbor Freiburg and watching the RB franchise squander a 3–0 lead. I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s entirely possible we’ll see Champions League football in Stuttgart again next year. Of course, at this point, it’s just wishful thinking and unrealistic, but we thought the same thing last year. Naturally, everything could fall apart, and the game against Slovan Bratislava might turn out to be the last trip after all the struggles.
To prevent this scenario, we absolutely have to win today. Against Športový klub Slovan Bratislava, who are still without a point, three points are a must. Only this way can we keep our chances of advancing alive. After all, next week on the final matchday of the Champions League group stage, no less than Paris Saint-Germain awaits us. I can imagine many are underestimating the record champions of the still relatively young Slovakia. Despite having some stars, the Eastern European nation isn’t exactly seen as a footballing powerhouse, and Slovan hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory in European competition in the past. But I want to raise a cautionary finger. We said the same thing about Red Star Belgrade. We also went into that match as heavy favorites and took a pretty hard fall. I hope the team has learned from that debacle and won’t be overwhelmed this time. Off the pitch, there’s also a risk of a “Belgrade 2.0.” The Slovan ultras aren’t exactly known for their hospitality. During VfB Stuttgart’s last visit to the Slovak capital, there were riots in the stands when Slovan fans attempted to attack the away section. Both on and off the pitch, caution is advised.
Squad Situation
To quote Sebastian Hoeneß: “Nothing has changed; no new injuries have been added.”
Possible Starting Lineup
There are exactly two uncertainties regarding the starting lineup:
- Will Leweling play? If yes, will he play on the left or the right? I can imagine both scenarios. However, I would leave him on the bench due to load management.
- Who will play in central defense? I expect Chabot/Al-Dakhil, though Rouault is also a realistic option.
Statistics
There has already been one encounter with Slovan Bratislava. In the 2010/11 season, we won 1–0 away at the Pasienky during the Europa League qualification and drew 2–2 at home. The top scorer is right-winger Tigran Barseghyan with 17 goals and 6 assists, followed by striker David Strelec (15 goals, 6 assists). For Slovan Bratislava, this is their first Champions League season in which they didn’t fail to qualify. However, they haven’t earned a single point so far and are already eliminated. In their domestic league, on the other hand, they’re quite dominant. They entered the new season as defending champions and currently lead the Niké Liga by four points. With 14 titles, they are Slovakia’s record champions. In 1994, they were the first Slovak champions after the separation from the Czech Republic and have won the title six times in a row recently.
Conclusion
We travel to Bratislava as favorites. However, the match in Belgrade should serve as a warning not to underestimate the opponent. With our newfound confidence, we should be able to handle this. I expect a narrow 1–0 victory and hope everyone stays injury-free.
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