Looking back: Spoils shared in recent games
The last three Bundesliga meetings between the sides have all finished level. Nick Woltemade was on target in a 1-1 draw in February 2025, while the teams’ last encounter back in December ended goalless. They also played out a 1-1 draw in October 2024, when Ermedin Demirovic netted a late equaliser. Stuttgart are the last team to emerge triumphant in this fixture, having won 3-0 in March 2024 thanks to goals from Enzo Millot, Serhou Guirassy and Jamie Leweling.
VfB’s former Hoffenheim trio
Sebastian Hoeneß spent nearly two years as Hoffenheim head coach between 2020 and 2022, while Angelo Stiller also played for the Sinsheim club from 2021 until 2023 before joining VfB for the start of the 2023/24 campaign. VfB goalkeeper Stefan Drljaca, meanwhile, wore TSG colours from 2016 until 2020.
Kabak’s six-month stint in Stuttgart
Ozan Kabak enjoyed half a season with VfB in 2019, joining the club in January before leaving for Schalke in July. The 28-time Türkiye international, who joined Hoffenheim in 2022, has made 22 Bundesliga appearances for the club this season, scoring four goals.
Both clubs enjoying fantastic seasons
With 57 points from 31 games so far, VfB are enjoying their third-most successful Bundesliga campaign since winning the title in 2006/07. Only twice have they had more points at this stage of a season – 58 in 2008/09 and 64 in 2023/24.
Hoffenheim, who are level on 57 points with VfB, are enjoying their best season since 2016/17, when they had 58 points after 31 matches.
Personnel: Players missing on both sides
Finn Jeltsch and Ameen Al-Dakhil are sidelined for VfB, while Jamie Leweling, Ermedin Demirovic and Chema are all currently on four yellow cards and will incur a one-match suspension if they pick up another booking on Saturday.
As for Hoffenheim, Robin Hranac and Grischa Prömel are suspended after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season last time out, while Valentin Gendrey und Koki Machida are both injured.
Attendance: VfB fans travelling in numbers
VfB will be backed by at least 3,000 supporters in Sinsheim. The Stuttgart fans have also come up with a special motto – ‘Alle in Rot!’ or ‘All in Red!’ – for their penultimate away match of the campaign.
