Bundesliga specialist Tom Sandford (@EuroEliteGER) has called it how he sees it this week, as Stuttgart and Freiburg prepare to do battle in a crucial 6-pointer that will nudge either side towards knowing their fate.
Stuttgart vs Freiburg @ Mercedez-Benz Arena, KO 14:30
The basement battle in the Bundesliga is really beginning to intensify. The Bundesliga relegation system is a little different from what we know in England. In Germany the bottom two clubs are relegated as usual but the team in third bottom (or 16th in this case) plays the team who came in 3rd in the 2. Bundesliga.
The relegation battle this season appears to have ultimately come down to 5 teams: Freiburg, Hannover, Paderborn, Stuttgart and Hamburg. There are only 4 points between Hamburg in 18th and Freiburg in 14th.
The two teams meet today hoping to get some crucial points in their bid to stay in the top division of German football next season and neither are unfamiliar with what it takes to stay up; Stuttgart and Freiburg placed 15th and 14 respectively last season, both narrowly escaping potential relegation or a relegation playoff match.
Looking at both teams’ recent history isn’t a pretty sight but then again if it was neither team would have anything to worry about this season; both Stuttgart and Freiburg lost their last outings but still managed to find the scoresheet. On paper it would seem as though Stuttgart have been the brighter of the teams, having won their last 2 home games they will be extra confident of a win tomorrow.
Stuttgart should also hold the psychological edge over their opponents as they come into the game in the knowledge that they have beaten Freiburg in 5 of the last 6 meetings and more importantly in the reverse fixture this season 4-1.
Freiburg mustn’t be ruled out too much though- they are higher in the league than Stuttgart and have a superior goal difference which is a testament to their superior points haul for the season against the stiff German competition..
With that said though I am still going to tip Stuttgart to come out on top here however do not expect Freiburg to go down without a fight, they should find the scoresheet but are likely to lose the match overall.
VfB Stuttgart WIN & BTTS (v Freiburg) – 2.5 PT STAKE @ 4.00 (Coral, William Hill, bet365)
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