Stuttgart vs. Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Hosts targeting UCL qualification

Predicted lineup: Zetterer; Amenda, Skhiri, Koch; Kristensen, Larsson, Dahoud, Brown; Uzun, Bahoya; Kalimuendo 

Stuttgart

Stuttgart will have the chance to retain the DFB-Pokal when they take on Bayern Munich in the final on May 23, but first, they will look to secure Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side will enter Saturday’s final round of fixtures in fourth position after beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 in last Saturday’s home clash, thanks to goals from Ermedin Demirović, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav. 

As a result of that victory, Stuttgart are sitting above Hoffenheim with a +5 goal difference advantage and three points clear of Leverkusen in the battle for a top-four finish. Stuttgart will hold on to fourth spot if they win, as long as Hoffenheim do not win by six goals more than their margin of victory. A draw will be enough if Hoffenheim fail to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach, while a defeat would require Leverkusen to drop points and die Kraichgauer to lose and for there not to be a significant change in goal difference. 

Die Schwaben have experienced mixed results in recent road trips, having won one, drawn three and lost two of their last six Bundesliga away games. They can at least take confidence from the fact they pulled off a 3-2 victory in January’s reverse fixture against Frankfurt.

Team News

Finn Jeltsch is available for selection after recovering from a four-game injury absence. However, the visitors remain without the suspended Atakan Karazor.

Predicted lineup: Nübel; Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstädt; Leweling, Chema, Nartey, Stiller, Führich; Demirović, Undav