VfB Stuttgart welcome RB Leipzig to the MHPArena on Bundesliga Matchday 19 for their first home fixture of the year. Ahead of the game, Sebastian Hoeneß gave an insight into the preparations and the personnel situation for Saturday’s meeting.
Nikolas Nartey (cartilage damage) remains sidelined, while Lilian Egloff is making good progress in his recovery. Atakan Karazor will serve a one-match ban against Leipzig. “Ata has had a really good season so far, he’s been an integral factor for us,” said the VfB coach, who already has a solution ready. “There’s the option of pulling Enzo Millot back into the holding midfield position. That’s worked before in the past.”
Serhou Guirassy, Silas (both AFCON), Wooyeong Jeong and Hiroki Ito (both Asian Cup) are still away on international duty. Silas scored the equaliser for DR Congo in a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Sunday, while Jeong opened the scoring in South Korea’s 3-3 draw with Malaysia today. All four national teams with VfB players have progressed to the knockout stages of their respective tournaments.
For the week between the games against Bochum and Leipzig, Hoeneß has chosen a mixture of tactical and psychological approaches. “In my view, we did a lot of things well against Bochum,” he said. “We created clearer chances than in the previous week against Gladbach, and we didn’t give many away. The goal we conceded was a poor one but we still showed a good reaction, and have analysed these positive aspects during the week with a view to the home game against Leipzig.” Chance creation and keeping possession in build-up play have been among the points in training this week, revealed Hoeneß.
Describing the visitors, the VfB coach spoke of “force and power”, adding: “RB Leipzig are an absolutely top-class side, as we learned in the reverse fixture. Nevertheless, we believe we’re capable of causing them problems at home. We’re really up for it. We two need halves at the same level. If we manage that we can get something, but we know it’s going to be tough.”