In their first season having returned to the top-flight once again, the side in the shirts with the infamous hoop proved one of the strongest home teams in the Bundesliga. In 17 games in front of their own supporters, the Wasenelf celebrated ten victories – only TSG Hoffenheim (11) and FC Bayern Munich (14) enjoyed more wins on their own turf. Claiming 34 points, the Cannstatt Boys secured two thirds of their points at home, leaving Borussia Dortmund and 13 further clubs behind them in the home rankings.
In the Mercedes-Benz Arena, it was the VfB defence which proved to be in top form, with Ron-Robert Zieler conceding only nine times at home, whilst also notching up ten clean-sheets in the Arena. Thus, Benjamin Pavard & Co. boasted the league’s third best home defence behind eventual runner-up Schalke and the champions from Munich (each conceded 15 goals).
Seven games unbeaten on Stuttgart soil
The side in the shirts with the infamous hoop last tasted defeat on their home turf back on January 27th, against FC Schalke 04 (0-2). Since then, Tayfun Korkut and his men have notched up four wins and three draws. On Saturday (18:30 CEST), VfB will be doing all in their power to continue that run against FC Bayern Munich. In their last home meeting with Bayern in December, the Wasenelf came within a whisker of sharing the spoils with the all-time record championship winners: In the fourth minute of added-time, Chadrac Akolo had the chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty-spot – but was denied by Sven Ulreich.
One decisive element of VfB’s recent home strength is undoubtedly the support the team receives from the White-Red fateful in the Mercedes-Benz Arena: Never before had so many fans converged on the stadium for VfB’s home games as during the 2017/2018 season. In the 17 home games in the Bundesliga in front of their home supporters, the club scraped at the million-mark and set a new club attendance record: On average, the side in the shirts with the infamous hoop drew some 56,000 spectators to each of their home matches.