Football Results

The comeback season in the elite rank for Stuttgart was expectedly full of problems and they are not far from the relegation zone, while Schalke, on the other hand, has played one of the best seasons lately and they are deservedly at the top of the table with teams that are sharing the second place. Stuttgart had practically won all the points so far in their field, and Schalke has spoiled impression a bit in two rounds of the second part of the season when they were left without a win. In the first part of the season, Schalke routinely defeated Stuttgart with 3-1.

VfB Stuttgart

Nothing particularly new for Stuttgart at the beginning of the second part of the season, because they again played better on the home field than as guests. However, this home triumph in the first round after the break also marked the end of a series of five consecutive defeats, ending with that in the Cup from Mainz. They have played against the same rival in the previous round, when they hoped they could finally celebrate outside of their stadium.

And they started well, they took the lead thanks to their center-back Badstuber, and then in the finish of the first and at the beginning of the second half they received two goals, and the third a little later, so it was clear that there will be not be a victory. They were fully outplayed, so they cannot complain too much, with the proviso that they remain on only one point won as guests. Kaminski and Akolo are returning in the team and will probably be in formation with three center-backs.

Probable lineups VfB Stuttgart: Zieler – Baumgartl, Badstuber, Kaminski – Pavard, Insua – Gentner, Ascacibar – Donis, Akolo – M.Gomez

Schalke 04

Schalke has failed to continue with their good performances in the second half of the season and in two rounds they only won one point. Defeat in the first round against Leipzig is still acceptable, because this is a very good opponent and with a slightly worse performance from Schalke, it was hard to expect a better result. That is why they were favourites against Hannover in the last round in their field and the victory was expected, which was still missing. They managed to take the lead in the early stage of the match and they are particularly pleased that the winter reinforcement Pjaca was the scorer of that goal and in his debut in front of the home crowd.

Later, they defended the advantage and such a game did not pay off, because they have received a goal in the finish for 1-1. Coach Tedesco has made some changes in the starting lineup and besides the mentioned Pjaca, who jumped in instead of di Santo, Kehrer was in the final line instead of Stambouli. D.Caligiuri was not in the team, instead of whom Goretzki played, while we now expect the return of D.Caligiuri, while Goretzka will not be on the bench, but Schopf. It is possible that Stambouli will return to the starting lineup.

Probable lineups Schalke 04: Fahrmann – Stambouli, Naldo, Nastasic – D.Caligiuri, M.Meyer, Oczipka – Goretzka, Harit – Pjaca, G.Burgstaller

Verdict:

Stuttgart is undefeated at home, but things are not going easy when their opponent is a stronger team. Schalke certainly is, despite a little worse beginning of the second part of the season and we believe that the guests can play good and it that case they are closer to victory, while a draw is not an unrealistic option.

Pick:  Asian Handicap +0.25 Schalke 1.57 - 57/100 @1XBet