The Stuttgart and Union Berlin formations meet at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena, in Stuttgart, in a first leg of the play-off to the Bundesliga. The history of clashes between the two teams favors Stuttgart: in the 2 games played, both in the 2016/2017 season, the home team won 1 win and 1 draw. This unique triumph was precisely in its stadium, when it won to Union Berlin, by 3-1.
Stuttgart:
The home team comes to this game with a draw, by 0-0, in the displacement to the field of Schalke 04, adding in this way the second consecutive game without losing in this German championship. It is important to remember that Stuttgart finished 16th in the standings with 28 points, after 7 wins, 7 draws and 20 losses. Due to this, the team managed to access the “maintenance” play-off in the first division of German football.
Analyzing the 17 matches played in this stadium for the championship, it is possible to verify that the team led by Nico Willig scored on average 1.3 goals and suffered on average 1.6 goals per game, showing some weaknesses in both sectors. It is important to note that the period in which the team scores and suffers most goals is between the 61 ‘and the 90’, when there were 26 goals.
In this game against the fans the local coach should use the usual 4-3-3, benefiting the maintenance of possession of the ball and organized attacks: Didavi is one of those responsible for creating and organizing the offensive process. On the other hand, the German Mario Gómez is the best marker of the premises, with 7 goals scored. For this game the coach does not have Thommy, Zuber and Beck, players who recover from injury.
Union Berlin:
The Berlin Union left for this match with a draw, 2-2, in the displacement to the Bochum, registering the second consecutive match without tasting the bitter taste of defeat: the goals of the team were marked by Joshua Mees and Promel. We emphasize that the visiting club obtained access to this tie due to the conquest of the 3rd position in the German second division.
In the 17 games played away from home in the second league, the team led by Urs Fischer scored on average 1.2 goals and suffered on average 1.3 goals per game, demonstrating several weaknesses, both in the offensive and defensive sectors . It is important to underline that a great part of the goals scored and suffered by the Berlin Union away from home were in the second 45 ‘.
Normally, the visiting coach presents a cautious team on the field, aligned in 4-4-2, with Sebastian Polter and Sebastian Andersson being the most stationary men on the attack front. Note that the striker Sebastian Andersson is the highlight of this training, with 12 goals and 6 assists. We emphasize that the outsiders have presented several gaps in the maintenance of possession of the ball and in the defensive transition. For this game the coach can count on all his players.
