Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Prediction Today (October 31, 2023):- Stuttgart and Union Berlin will face each other in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, the German Cup, on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. The match will be played at the MHPArena in Ludwigsburg, a city near Stuttgart. Both teams are currently in the top half of the Bundesliga table, but they have different forms and expectations for this cup clash.
Stuttgart: Aiming for a Bounce-back
Stuttgart has had a mixed start to the 2023-24 season, winning four, drawing two, and losing three of their nine Bundesliga games so far. They are seventh in the league standings, with 14 points, six behind leaders Union Berlin. They have scored 21 goals, the second-most in the league, but they have also conceded 16, the fourth-most.
Stuttgart has been impressive at home, winning four of their five games at the MHPArena, scoring 18 goals and conceding only five. Their only home defeat came in their last game when they lost 3-2 to Hoffenheim on Saturday. They were trailing 2-0 after 21 minutes and could not complete a comeback despite goals from Wataru Endo and Silas Wamangituka.
Stuttgart has a good record in the DFB-Pokal, having won the trophy three times, most recently in 1997. They reached the quarter-finals last season, where they lost to Borussia Monchengladbach on penalties. In the first round of this season’s competition, they thrashed fourth-tier side Balingen 4-0 away, with goals from Enzo Millot, Silas, Serhou Guirassy, and Endo.
Stuttgart will be without their top scorer Guirassy, who has seven goals in nine games, due to a thigh injury. He is expected to be out for several weeks. They will also miss defender Konstantinos Mavropanos and midfielder Philipp Forster due to injuries. Coach Sebastian Hoeness will likely rotate his squad and give some fringe players a chance to impress.
Union Berlin: Flying high in the league
Union Berlin has been one of the surprise packages of the Bundesliga this season, topping the table after nine games with 20 points. They have won six, drawn two, and lost only one of their games so far. They have scored 16 goals and conceded only six, the joint-best defensive record in the league.
Union Berlin has been especially strong away from home, winning four and drawing one of their five games on the road. They have scored 10 goals and conceded only two in those games. Their only defeat of the season came in their last game when they lost 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. They had midfielder Rani Khedira sent off in the 60th minute and could not cope with Frankfurt’s pressure.
Union Berlin has never won the DFB-Pokal, but they reached the final in 2001, where they lost to Schalke 04. They reached the semi-finals last season, where they lost to eventual winners Borussia Dortmund. In the first round of this season’s competition, they hammered fourth-tier side Astoria Walldorf 4-0 away, with goals from Robin Knoche, Sheraldo Becker, Diogo Leite, and Janik Haberer.
Union Berlin will be without Khedira due to suspension for this game. They will also miss defender Danilo Doekhi and midfielder David Datro Fofana due to injuries. Coach Urs Fischer will likely field a strong line-up as he aims to maintain his team’s momentum and challenge for silverware.
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Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Prediction Today
This game promises to be an exciting and high-scoring affair between two teams that play attractive and attacking football. Stuttgart have a slight edge at home and will be eager to bounce back from their last defeat. Union Berlin has been superb away from home and will be confident of extending their lead at the top of the league.
However, both teams are likely to make some changes to their usual line-ups and rest some key players for this cup game. This could affect their rhythm and cohesion on the pitch. Moreover, both teams have been involved in some close contests recently, with four of their last five meetings ending in draws.
Therefore, we predict that this game will end in a draw after 90 minutes, with both teams scoring at least once. The game could then go to extra time or penalties to decide the winner.
Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Betting Tips
- Result: Draw
- Goals: Over/Under 2.5 Goals – Over
- Both Teams To Score: Yes
- First Goal Scorer: Silas Wamangituka (Stuttgart) or Max Kruse (Union Berlin)
Head-to-head stats
| Stuttgart | Union Berlin |
|---|---|
| Games played | 11 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 6 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Goals scored | 14 |
| Goals conceded | 13 |
Other facts
- Stuttgart and Union Berlin have met once in the DFB-Pokal, in the second round of the 2016-17 season. The game ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes and Union Berlin won 3-1 on penalties.
- Stuttgart has won the DFB-Pokal three times, in 1954, 1958, and 1997. They have also been runners-up three times, in 1955, 1986, and 2013.
- Union Berlin have reached the DFB-Pokal final once, in 2001. They have also reached the semi-finals twice, in 2000 and 2020.
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