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UEFA Champions League - Slovan Bratislava VS VfB Stuttgart Preview
UEFA Champions League - Slovan Bratislava VS VfB Stuttgart
Match Time:22-01-2025 04:00 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Slovan
Slovan has navigated a long path in the Champions League qualifiers, having defeated Struga, Celje, APOEL, and Midtjylland to reach their debut group stage. However, this debut has been nothing short of disastrous, as reflected in their penultimate position in the group standings. Slovan is one of only three clubs that have yet to secure a point at this stage, with a goal difference of 5-21, managing only to surpass Young Boys - not exactly a badge of honor.
In their first three matches against Celtic and Girona away, and Manchester City at home, the Bratislava side suffered heavy defeats with an aggregate score of 1:11. In the following three matches, they managed to score regularly, but it was of little consequence, conceding ten goals against Dinamo Zagreb, Milan, and Atletico. The closest Slovan came to their first points was in the home game against Milan, where they lost 2:3. This remains the only match they lost by a single goal. Throughout the league stage, Slovan led the score for just five minutes in their home game against Dinamo, ultimately being thrashed 1:4.
An additional challenge for the capital team is that they have not played any official matches since mid-December, as the Slovak league is currently on pause. Leading up to the match against Stuttgart, the hosts prepared through a friendly against Qatari side Al-Gharafa, which they won 2:1. In the Slovak league, the champions are currently in first place, though their position at the top is not as secure as last season, with only a three-point advantage over Zilina. Nevertheless, 14 wins in 18 matches still look convincing. On the other hand, home dominance has proved to be of little significance in the Champions League, and once again Slovan will enter the match against Stuttgart as the underdog.
Stuttgart
Unlike their upcoming opponent, Stuttgart has much to fight for in the remaining rounds. Their return to the Champions League, first since the 2009/10 season after a fantastic last campaign in the Bundesliga, could still prove successful. The decisive match may be against PSG in the final round of the group stage, played at home next week. However, to maintain their chances of landing in the top 24 by then, they must secure a victory in Bratislava. So far, Stuttgart has not impressed on the road in the Champions League. They suffered a 1:3 loss against Real Madrid in the first round, conceding two goals in the final ten minutes of regular time. Although they then had a narrow victory over Juventus in Turin with a late goal from Toure while the 'Bianconeri' were a man down, their latest away match was a massive disappointment. In Belgrade, the players under Heness went for three points but ended up conceding five goals, scoring just once - a 1:5 defeat.
At home in the Champions League, following a draw against Sparta and a loss to Atalanta, the Swabians finally secured a win in the last round, crushing the worst team in the tournament at the moment - Young Boys. All five goals came from different players: Stiller, Milla, Furich, Wagnoman, and Keitel. Interestingly, the victory was a comeback, as the Swiss side scored first at the beginning of the match.
Stuttgart's results at the start of 2025 suggest that defeating another underdog of the Champions League on the road should be very much within their reach. In the Bundesliga this season, Stuttgart is again battling for a Champions League spot, sitting in fourth place after 18 matches. Their last three matches in the German championship have consistently ended in victories for Stuttgart. They defeated Augsburg away, and at home claimed wins against Leipzig and Freiburg, the latter impressively with a scoreline of 4:0 last weekend. Since the crushing defeat in Belgrade, Stuttgart has won three consecutive away matches, indicating a strong likelihood that past mistakes will not be repeated in Bratislava.
Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:
Takac; Voet, Kashia, Bajric, Medvedev; Savvidis, Kucka, Blackman; Barseghyan, Strelec, Mak
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nuebel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Stergiou; Karazor, Stiller, Rieder, Millot, Fuehrich; Demirovic
Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have crossed paths twice, with both meetings taking place in the UEFA Europa League 2010-11 qualifying campaign. The visitors were unbeaten in these meetings, recording an away win while the reverse fixture ended in a draw.
The hosts have conceded 21 goals in six games in the Champions League this season, with only last-placed Young Boys conceding more (22).
Stuttgart are unbeaten in their last four away games, recording three wins. They have scored nine goals in these games while keeping two clean sheets.
Slovan Bratislava have conceded 11 goals in three home games in the Champions League. Three of their five goals have been scored in home games.
The visitors have scored at least two goals in nine of their last 12 games across all competitions.
Prediction: Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Stuttgart
The hosts have not got anything to play for, having already been eliminated from the competition. While they would love to play spoiler against Stuttgart, we expect the German side to be too good for them here in a comfortable away victory.
From:Preview
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