Baden-Württemberg-Derby

After being overwhelmed 4-1 by Leverkusen, 1899 travel to Stuttgart for the Baden-Württemberg-Derby trying to regain the form that saw them the top club of the Hinrude. However since the restart, the wheel has fallen from the cart and have only one win of three, that being the less than impressive victory over Energie Cottbus.

In their favour, 1899 could benefit from VfB's late UEFA Cup match in Saint Petersburg, Russia and fatigue and mental preparedness could be an issue. However, that withstanding, that does not solve the production problem since the loss of Vedad Ibišević.

Against die Schwaben Ralf Rangnick not only must solve the attacking problems but likely do without Timo Hildebrand and Marvin Compper. Hildebrand is anxious to play against his former team and final decision will likely be made in the early warm-ups. Both Wellington and Edu Obasi are pushing for a place in the starting eleven with the knowledge that 1899 must be more aggressive going forward. VfB have yet to lose in the Bundesliga under Markus Babbel, who will be without Matthieu Delpierre, Timo Gebhart, Sebastian Rudy and Yıldıray Baştürk.