Stuttgart vs Greuther Fürth

Newly-promoted Greuther Fürth head to the Mercedes-Benz Arena to meet Stuttgart in their first Bundesliga match since 2013.

Despite being in the European promotion race for most of last season, Stuttgart ultimately had to settle for a mid-table finish, as they now aim to maintain their Bundesliga life for two consecutive seasons for the first time since 2015. However, an uneventful transfer window, coupled with an abysmal form down the final stretch of 2020/21 (W2, L5), indicates this season could be another uphill task. It has been eight years since Stuttgart last faced Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga, and a victory here would help them erase the unpleasant memory of a 2-0 defeat in their only top-flight meeting here. However, a run of three losses in their final four home Bundesliga fixtures last season (W1), all of which saw them conceded 2+ goals, speaks enough of Stuttgart’s glaring issues on home soil.

Meanwhile, Greuther Fürth earned only their second-ever Bundesliga promotion last season, finishing runners-up to Bochum, mainly thanks to an impressive away form. Indeed, the ‘Kleeblätter‘ became only the third side in the past decade to gain top-flight promotion despite accruing most of their points on the road (33/64). In addition to boasting a win-draw ratio of 88.24% away from home in 2020/21 (W9, D6, L2), Stefan Leitl’s men notably scored 2+ goals in 70.59% of their last season’s league trips whilst drawing a blank just once in 17 such fixtures. Additionally, Fürth’s ability to perform under pressure saw them avoid defeat in all six away league matches they started as underdogs last term (W2, D4). Another good omen here is that Fürth’s biggest win in Germany’s top-flight came at the Mercedes-Benz Arena (2-0).