German Bundesliga
2011-04-09 - Vfb Stuttgart vs Kaiserslautern
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football ; Germany : Bundesliga
Mercedes Benz Arena
Saturday,09th April 2011 – kickoff 18:30
Vfb Stuttgart
Last weekend`s 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen did not do much good to Vfb Stuttgart chances for survival as they are still stuck at the bottom, just two points above the relegation places.
However, Vfb Stuttgart are on a very good run of five matches in a row being unbeaten and they will look to extend that series against Kaiserslautern who are their direct rivals at the bottom.
Prior this match, there are question marks over the fitness of two important team players- Tamas Hajnal and Timo Gebhart. Hungarian International Hajnal had missed few training sessions during the week complaining to a thigh problems, and according to his coach Bruno Labbadia there is forty-sixty chance whether he will play or not. He has been productive team player since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in January (two goals and two assists) and he will probably make it on time for this important match. Timo Gebhart is struggling with an ankle injury which will most likely prevent him from playing in this match.
Pavel Pogrebnyak (seven goals scored) will once again be the only striker in the formation, but the winger Martin Harnik has been very dangerous as well as he had scored eight goals for the team so far.
Probable Vfb Stuttgart line-up :
Boulahrouz, Tasci, Niedermeier, Molinaro,
Trasch, Kuzmanovic,
Harnik, Hajnal, Okazaki,
Pogrebnyak
Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern are just one point above their rivals Vfb Stuttgart and at their home ground they have just four wins this season, combined with six draws and four losses.
Coach Marko Kurz faces difficulties in selecting his squad as he can not count on the services of the Slovak striker Adam Nemec who had suffered a serious ligament injury in the last week`s 1-0 home loss against Bayer Leverkusen.
The winger Ivo Ilicevic (five goals, six assists) had suffered an abdominal injury and will not play as well, so probably the Austrian Erwin Hoffer (four goals scored) will be his replacement in the formation.
The 21-year old midfielder Jan Moravek (five goals scored) had missed couple of training sessions during the week with a calf injury, but he should be available on time to start in this match.
The Croatian International Srdjan Lakic, who had scored eleven goals for the team so far, will be the only striker in the formation once again, but is constantly booed by the home fans since he announced that he will play for Vfl Wolfsburg starting from next season, and although he is in the top ten Bundesliga strikers list, he had not scored a single goal for the team in almost three months.
Probable Kaiserslautern line-up :
Dick, Abel, Rodnei, Jessen,
Tiffert, Bilek,
Hoffer, Moravek, Hlousek ,
Lakic
The Betting Verdict
The first match this season between Vfb Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern this season had ended in highly entertaining 3-3 draw.
In my opinion, Vfb Stuttgart are much better team than Kaiserslautern and i expect them to prove that in this match. Vfb Stuttgart are building the momentum, they are unbeaten in five matches, unlike Kaiserslautern who besides bad results have also been struggling with personal problems in the team.
I would go for a clear home win for Vfb Stuttgart in this match as another confidence booster prior the last five league matches and another increase of their chances to stay in the Bundesliga.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Vfb Stuttgart-Kaiserslautern 2-0
