1. Bundesliga
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Played
February 11, 2012 2:30 PM GMT
Mercedes-Benz-Arena — Stuttgart
Referee:‬ D. Aytekin‎
Attendance:‬ 45000‎
 
25′ Vedad Ibisevic
 
28′ Martin Harnik
 
32′ Shinji Okazaki
 
41′ Martin Harnik
 
58′ Martin Harnik
 

Bundesliga Preview: Stuttgart - Hertha Berlin

Bruno Labbadia's men will be looking to revive their bid for European qualification, while the visitors are in dire need of points to stave off a relegation battle

By Enis Koylu

More On :  Hertha BSC, VfB Stuttgart, VfB Stuttgart vs Hertha BSC
German Bundesliga: Hertha BSC Berlin - Bayer Leverkusen, Pierre-Michel Lasogga
Bongarts

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

STUTTGART

Ulreich
Boulahrouz, Tasci, Maza, Sakai
Harnik, Kvist, Gentner, Okazaki
Ibisevic, Cacau
HERTHA BERLIN

Kraft
Morales, Hubnik, Mijatovic, Kobiashvili
Ebert, Ottl, Niemeyer, Raffael
Ramos, Lasogga

Following his late red in his side's 2-2 draw with Leverkusen, Cristian Molinaro is suspended. The Italian's absence, coupled with Arthur Boka's continued involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations will give Gotoku Sakai a chance to start for Bruno Labbadia's side.

Ibrahima Traore has returned from his own campaign in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea with a groin strain, while Timo Gebhart is also missing after tearing abdominal muscles. Johan Audel is fit, but unlikely to start.

Hertha Berlin will also be without a player due to suspension. Sebastian Neumann has picked up one too many yellow cards and will miss the trip to the Mercedes Benz Arena. Elsewhere, Christian Lell has a muscle problem, Maik Franz has a torn cruciate ligament, and Fabian Lustenberger remains sidelined with a broken metatarsal.


DID YOU KNOW
  • Both Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin's runs in the DFB-Pokal ended on Wednesday, with the former being beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich, and the latter losing to Borussia Monchengladbach by the same scoreline.
  • Markus Babbel, who won Hertha Berlin promotion back to the top flight last season, started his coaching career with Stuttgart.
  • A goal from Raffael gave Hertha Berlin a 1-0 victory over Saturday's opponents in the first half of the season.
  • The Berliners have lost just two of their last 11 meetings with the Mercedes Benz Arena side.
  • A victory for Michael Skibbe's men would see them go level on points with Saturday's adversaries.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Hertha BSC
    27.42 %
  • VfB Stuttgart 2-0 Hertha BSC
    16.13 %
  • VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Hertha BSC
    11.29 %
Head to Head
1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Feb 11, 2012 VfB Stuttgart 5 - Hertha BSC 0
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Aug 26, 2011 Hertha BSC 1 - VfB Stuttgart 0
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Apr 10, 2010 Hertha BSC 0 - VfB Stuttgart 1
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Nov 21, 2009 VfB Stuttgart 1 - Hertha BSC 1
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Mar 21, 2009 VfB Stuttgart 2 - Hertha BSC 0
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Last Five Matches
VfB Stuttgart
May 5, 2012VfB Stuttgart 3 - VfL Wolfsburg 2GER1
Apr 28, 2012FC Bayern München 2 - VfB Stuttgart 0GER1
Apr 21, 2012FC Köln 1 - VfB Stuttgart 1GER1
Apr 13, 2012VfB Stuttgart 4 - Werder Bremen 1GER1
Apr 10, 2012FC Augsburg 1 - VfB Stuttgart 3GER1
Hertha BSC
May 15, 2012F. Düsseldorf 2 - Hertha BSC 2GERP
May 10, 2012Hertha BSC 1 - F. Düsseldorf 2GERP
May 5, 2012Hertha BSC 3 - Hoffenheim 1GER1
Apr 28, 2012Schalke 04 4 - Hertha BSC 0GER1
Apr 21, 2012Hertha BSC 1 - 1. FCK 2GER1
Odds
Returns: VfB Stuttgart £21.50 188bet Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game
Returns: Draw £50.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Hertha BSC £100.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Sven UlreichGoalkeeper
2Gotoku SakaiDefender
8William Kvist JörgensenMidfielder
5Serdar TasciDefender
6Georg NiedermeierDefender
21Khalid BoulahrouzDefender
20Christian GentnerMidfielder
28Tamas HajnalMidfielder
7Martin HarnikStriker
9Vedad IbisevicStriker
31Shinji OkazakiStriker
22Marc ZieglerGoalkeeper
14Francisco Javier RodríguezDefender
-Antonio RüdigerDefender
8Zdravko KuzmanovicMidfielder
16Raphael HolzhauserMidfielder
18CacauStriker
23Julian SchieberStriker
35Thomas KraftGoalkeeper
4Roman HubnikDefender
5Andre MijatovicDefender
22Felix BastiansDefender
27Alfredo MoralesDefender
3Levan KobiashviliMidfielder
8Andreas OttlMidfielder
18Peter NiemeyerMidfielder
20Patrick EbertMidfielder
10Raffael Caetano de AraújoMidfielder
19Pierre-Michel LasoggaStriker
21Sascha BurchertGoalkeeper
6Christoph JankerDefender
12Ronny Heberson Furtado de AraújoMidfielder
9Adrian RamosStriker
11Tunay TorunStriker
13Nikita RukavytsyaMidfielder
25Marco DjuricinStriker
Players to Watch
Gotoku Sakai
Gotoku Sakai
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 2
Games Goals YC RC
14 0 1 0
The Bundesliga has witnessed a number of top imports from Japan in recent years, with Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa and Stuttgart's own Shinji Okazaki standing as proof to this. The USA-born full-back is set to make his first appearance for his new club since his loan move from Albirex Niigata, and, as an unknown quantity for many, could be the next big hit in Germany's top flight.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga
Pierre-Michel Lasogga
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 19
Games Goals YC RC
31 8 4 0
An injury to either Miroslav Klose or Mario Gomez will leave a striking berth in Joachim Low's Germany squad, and given Lasogga's impressive form for the Under-21 team and at club level, the 20-year-old will consider himself on the cusp of his national team, and there will be no better way to prove his credentials by outshining Cacau, his main rival for a potential Germany place.
Prediction
Although Stuttgart have an ostensibly stronger squad than the Berliners, Bruno Labbadia's men have been struggling for form in recent weeks. However, Hertha have been less than impressive, and have found themselves embroiled in a battle to avoid a hasty return to the second flight. With plenty at stake for both teams, I'd expect a tight affair with the hosts edging it thanks to their home advantage and superior array of talent.
Editor's Prediction
VfB Stuttgart 2
Hertha BSC 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker
Schalke 		29 6
Mario Gomez Mario Gomez
Striker
Bayern 		26 4
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		22 0
Lukas Podolski Lukas Podolski
Striker
FC Koln 		18 3
Claudio Pizarro Claudio Pizarro
Striker
Werder Bremen 		18 2