Bundesliga Playoffs: Stuttgart vs. HSV Preview, Betting Tips, Predictions, Pick

Stuttgart and Hamburger clash in the relegation playoffs, deciding who plays in Bundesliga next year and who goes down to the second tier. These two sides have very loyal fanbases and present big names in German football. Both have been the champions in the past, and both had notable results in Europe, particularly HSV, who was even the continental champion. This game isn’t bringing trophies but has a massive significance for either unit. We need to mention that this is only the first of two legs.

Preview 

Stuttgart (-166) saved its skin in the last three Bundesliga rounds, collecting five points in three events and having some luck with all the other results. Die Schwaben didn’t look confident at home against Hoffenheim, taking one point from that event, but an unexpected victory the week earlier against Mainz, 1-4, was the ultimate push that helped them reach the playoffs. 

Overall, the team has struggled to find the proper rhythm, and only since early April have we seen Stuttgart playing competitive football. In their last 10 matches, the boys from the Mercedes-Benz Arena lost just twice, once in the DFB Pokal and once in Bundesliga.

Die Schwaben play efficient football, with plenty of goals on both ends of the pitch. The previous nine all saw both teams netting, which suggests that Stuttgart likes to trade blows with its rival.

Hamburger (+400) was in the Bundesliga for a few minutes before Heindenheim’s miraculous comeback in the last moments of the contest in Regensburg. HSV’s fans even entered the pitch to celebrate but were later in tears.

Many speculate about the players’ morale and the situation in the locker room because experiencing such a situation is a tremendous blow. They could be emotionally empty, which would be a big problem for the head coach Tim Walter. 

Die Rothosen, which is the nickname for the team from Hamburg, won the last three meetings in the league. Walter’s offensive-minded tactics make HSV’s games entertaining and fun to watch. Only two in the previous ten have been with under 2.5 goals, and the same were also with both teams netting. 

Latest News

Kastanaras is out for the hosts.

Katterbach, Mickel and Vuskovic are all ineligible for the guests from Hamburg.

Head to Head Games

Throughout the years, these two rivals have met 117 times, and the current result in direct encounters is slightly better with 47 wins, one more than HSV, while 24 events saw no winners. 

There was a friendly international in the 2020 summer, in which Stuttgart won, 3-2. Previously, in the 2019/20 season, the two units met on three occasions, Stuttgart winning in DFB Pokal and Zweite, while HSV trashed the Schwaben at home 6-2 early into the season. 

Prediction

Neither of these teams has a particularly strong defense or midfield, because both focus their resources on scoring goals. Stuttgart played like that recently, while HSV used such an approach throughout the year. Both teams netting has been almost a rule when looking at the respective stats, and that would be our pick here. 

Pick: Both teams to score -165