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Played
November 3, 2012 2:30 PM GMT
Signal-Iduna-Park — Dortmund
Referee:‬ F. Zwayer‎
Attendance:‬ 80645‎
 

Borussia Dortmund - Stuttgart Preview: Champions seeking momentum for Bundesliga defence

BVB seem to have lost the imperious air that surrounded them last season and will be eager to set that straight in a replay of one of last season's most exciting matches

By Tom Webber

More On :  Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund vs VfB Stuttgart
German Cup, VfR Aalen vs. Borussia Dortmund, mario Goetze
Bongarts
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Kehl
Reus, Gotze, Grosskreutz
Lewandowski
STUTTGART

Ulrich
Sakai, Tasci, Niedermeier, Molinaro
Gentner, Kvist, Holzhauser
Harnik, Ibisevic, Traore

Jurgen Klopp is expected to name the same starting XI which defeated Freiburg last weekend as Borussia Dortmund host Stuttgart on Saturday.

After a stuttering start to the season, which included defeat to rivals Schalke last month, BVB have since recorded three straight wins in all competitions. Now looking for consistency, there are unlikely to be any changes as Ilkay Gundogan continues in midfield ahead of the injured Sven Bender.

The two teams played out an epic 4-4 draw in last season's corresponding fixture and the reigning champions will start with nine of the same players: only Shinji Kagawa, who has since left for Manchester United, and Jakub Blaszczykowski (injured) will be absent. In their stead there are more than capable replacements in the form of Mario Gotze and Marco Reus.

With his team unbeaten in four league outings, Bruno Labbadia is also expected to retain the same XI from Stuttgart's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. However, there are concerns over the fitness of right-back Gotoku Sakai and Serdar Tasci which could mean a reshuffle at the back.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • In the corresponding fixture from last season, Borussia Dortmund could only manage a 4-4 draw against a determined Stuttgart side.
  • Jurgen Klopp's side have only tasted defeat twice in their previous 37 Bundesliga outings.
  • BVB have drawn their last three matches against die Schwaben at the Signal Iduna Park
  • Stuttgart hold the upper hand in the history books when facing the reigning champions with 38 wins to 28 in a total of 88 meetings.
  • The Baden-Wurttemberg outfit have not picked up all three points in Dortmund since a 1-0 win in February 2007.
  • Vedad Ibisevic (right) has netted more Bundesliga goals than any BVB player so far this season. His five strikes put him one goal ahead of the hosts' leading scorer, Reus.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Borussia Dortmund 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
    16.51 %
  • Borussia Dortmund 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
    15.89 %
  • Borussia Dortmund 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
    15.58 %
Head to Head
1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Mar 30, 2013 VfB Stuttgart 1 - Borussia Dortmund 2
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Nov 3, 2012 Borussia Dortmund 0 - VfB Stuttgart 0
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Mar 30, 2012 Borussia Dortmund 4 - VfB Stuttgart 4
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Oct 29, 2011 VfB Stuttgart 1 - Borussia Dortmund 1
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1. Bundesliga ‎(GER1)‎ Jan 22, 2011 Borussia Dortmund 1 - VfB Stuttgart 1
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Last Five Matches
Borussia Dortmund
May 25, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 2UCL
May 18, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - Hoffenheim 2GER1
May 11, 2013VfL Wolfsburg 3 - Borussia Dortmund 3GER1
May 4, 2013Borussia Dortmund 1 - FC Bayern München 1GER1
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
VfB Stuttgart
Jun 1, 2013FC Bayern München 3 - VfB Stuttgart 2GERC
May 18, 2013VfB Stuttgart 2 - Mainz 2GER1
May 11, 2013Schalke 04 1 - VfB Stuttgart 2GER1
May 4, 2013VfB Stuttgart 0 - Greuther Fürth 2GER1
Apr 27, 2013FC Augsburg 3 - VfB Stuttgart 0GER1
Odds
Returns: Dortmund £60.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £45.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: VfB Stuttgart £150.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1Roman WeidenfellerGoalkeeper
4Neven SuboticDefender
15Mats HummelsDefender
26Lukasz PiszczekDefender
29Marcel SchmelzerDefender
5Sebastian KehlMidfielder
8Ilkay GündoganMidfielder
10Mario GötzeMidfielder
19Kevin GroßkreutzMidfielder
9Robert LewandowskiStriker
11Marco ReusMidfielder
20Mitchell LangerakGoalkeeper
24Chris LöweDefender
27Felipe SantanaDefender
7Moritz LeitnerMidfielder
14Ivan PerisicMidfielder
21Oliver KirchMidfielder
23Julian SchieberStriker
1Sven UlreichGoalkeeper
2Gotoku SakaiDefender
5Serdar TasciDefender
6Georg NiedermeierDefender
15Arthur BokaDefender
4William Kvist JörgensenMidfielder
7Martin HarnikStriker
16Ibrahima TraoreMidfielder
20Christian GentnerMidfielder
26Raphael HolzhauserMidfielder
9Vedad IbisevicStriker
22Marc ZieglerGoalkeeper
2Francisco Javier RodríguezDefender
3Cristian MolinaroDefender
24Antonio RüdigerDefender
8Zdravko KuzmanovicMidfielder
30Tamas HajnalMidfielder
31Shinji OkazakiStriker
Players to Watch
Lukasz Piszczek
Lukasz Piszczek
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 26
Games Goals YC RC
29 2 1 0
The Pole has proved himself to be one of the best attacking full-backs on the continent with his performances over the last year and more of the same can be expected against Stuttgart. His role will be vital as the visitors' use of wingers may keep him more occupied than usual in defence. But if Dortmund can control possession then he can run forward at will, dragging the wingers back with him as he exploits space in the midfield. You would not want to bet against him adding to his four assists already achieved this season.
Vedad Ibisevic
Vedad Ibisevic
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
30 15 10 1
The striker has impressed at his new club since joining from Hoffenheim and has made a positive start to the season. Five goals so far this season show he is a man in form and with a keen eye for goal. His hold-up play will be tested when he comes up against Hummels and Subotic and he will also need a lot of energy to try and unlock a typically stalwart defence. Stuttgart cannot afford to have the Bosnian go missing and will thus need to ensure he is supplied with the ball all afternoon.
Prediction
It could well be a close-run game between these two in-form teams, but home advantage should be enough to see Borussia Dortmund to safety. Jurgen Klopp is consistent with his team selection and they look high on confidence since the triumph over Real Madrid last month. More will be expected from Marco Reus and Mario Gotze, though, as the duo struggled to make an effective impact in the snow last week. But of course, Stuttgart cannot be discounted and have put together a decent string of results themselves.
Editor's Prediction
Dortmund 2
VfB Stuttgart 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Stefan Kießling Stefan Kießling
Striker
Leverkusen 		25 4
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		24 1
Alexander Meier Alexander Meier
Midfielder
Eintracht Frankfurt 		17 3
Vedad Ibisevic Vedad Ibisevic
Striker
VfB Stuttgart 		15 5
Mario Mandzukic Mario Mandzukic
Striker
Bayern 		15 0

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