VfB Stuttgart - FC Ingolstadt 04

Statistic:

- The strongest away team Ingolstadt (10 Points) arrive in Stuttgart which is the .....
- Weakest home team this Season so far (0 Points).
- Stuttgart conceded already 19 goals and have the weakest defense form all BL teams.
- But Ingolstadt has the weakest offense with only 6 goals scored.
- Stuttgart started with 4 defeats in a row into the Season, never before such a run.
- Ingolstadt is the first newcomer who could manage to be unbeaten after 4 road games.
- They started with 3x 1-0 wins away from home, the last game in Cologne was a 1-1 draw.
- With only 6 goals scored collected Ingolstadt incredible 14 Points so far (new BL record !!!).
- Never before has a team with so less goals so many Points on their side.

It was a lot of hope in Stuttgart before the Season and above all on new Coach Zorniger who has a clear idea how his team should play. The offensive style is great and they creating a lot of attempts on goal but they are to harmless there. They are on of the teams who did a great job in creating but the most important thing is to finish some of this good opportunities. This was not the case and therefore they are already in danger zone to begin of the Season. At home they were not able to win a single Points although they were the better side in almost all home games. Key is here that they invest to much in the offensive play and forgot to take some eye on the defensive work. Additional a lot of individual mistakes form some players made it noch much easier to avoid goals. Despite missing some players like striker Ginczek or doubtful Kostic and Gentner they are absolutely positive to win the first home game and Points today. If the last two players can play is not out yet but they had some muscle injuries and may they should not risk much because the Season is still young. With Rupp and Maxim they should have find the replacements here while Harnik plays up front as striker. The wings with Werner and Maxim should support him also Didavi as creative player in the middle. The defensive part in midfield is for Serey Die and Rupp, both should have an eye on the compactness and defensive work and may take some influence in their style of play.

The newcomer form Ingolstadt is one of the biggest surprise teams this Season. They started really well above all on the road where they showed a good style of play with high pressing and some good fast breaks. The home performance is much different because the problems from this team is known, they are not able to control an opponent or make the game. Therefore they need a few matches to get the first home win what was deserved before the break against weak Frankfurt. The next important thing is maybe that they are not a scoring team, it was the case already in 2.Bundesliga and in 1.Bundesliga they did very very hard so far. They are not able to score more as one goal (ok, against Frankfurt they won 2-0 but this was the only one from 8). The main focus is on defensive work and compactness to allow not much space and up front they try get some fast and good counter attacks. The first match in Mainz was a clear sign of their strength on the road, also in Augsburg, against Bremen they had really luck with a penalty kick in the last seconds but they won all three 1-0. The match in Cologne was a big different and they were close to lose this one but Cologne was to nervous to get the job done in front of the goal. Nevertheless the team is good and working well and they play what they can, nothing more, nothing less. With Roger miss Coach Hasenhüttl today an important central midfield player suspended, his replacement is defender Bregerie who was signed from Darmstadt before the Season. This is the chance for him and make some noise with a good performance. The other positions are all unchanged.

It is a do or die game for Stuttgart and the match plan from both is clear. The home side from Stuttgart has to control and make the game while Ingolstadt sit back and defend like hell. If Stuttgart can only use two of their excellent created opportunities they win this match for sure because Ingolstadt is not able to score more as 1. Also I believe that Stuttgart gets the turnaround now while Ingolstadt invested a lot and have some luck too but this is the right game for a change. Both are so different in their Season so far and this is exactly the right Point after the break. Fingers crossed and let's go VfB.

PICK: VfB Stuttgart AHC -0,5 @ 1,88 (3 Units / Flat Stake)