German Bundesliga
2026-09-19 - VfB Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; Germany: Bundesliga
MHP Arena – Stuttgart
Saturday, 19th September 2026 - kickoff 18:30 CET
VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart have three points from their opening three Bundesliga games, but their results tell only part of the story. They were beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich, responded with a convincing 4-1 win over Köln and then lost 2-1 at TSG Hoffenheim last weekend.
VfB Stuttgart have also had a busy schedule, beating Viking 3-1 in the Champions League last Wednesday. Ermedin Demirović scored a hat-trick in that game, while VfB Stuttgart have several attacking options capable of making life difficult for Borussia Dortmund.
There is one important fitness question in midfield. Angelo Stiller suffered a knock against TSG Hoffenheim and returned to training with a light running session on Tuesday, but his availability for Saturday remains uncertain.
VfB Stuttgart can also point to a strong recent record in this fixture. They have won four of the last six competitive meetings, although Borussia Dortmund won the most recent meeting 0-2 in April.
Borussia Dortmund
The last time Borussia Dortmund opened their Bundesliga season with three straight wins was 11 years ago, under Thomas Tuchel. They finished second that season, and now they're off to the same start.
They beat Hamburger SV 2-0, came from behind to win 2-3 away against TSG Hoffenheim, and then comfortably dispatched SC Paderborn 3-0 last weekend.
Coach Niko Kovac has plenty of options in attack. Serhou Guirassy has already scored twice and assisted twice in three Bundesliga matches, while Fábio Silva and Felix Nmecha both found the net against SC Paderborn. Borussia Dortmund also showed their European credentials with a 3-2 Champions League win over Villarreal last week.
There is positive news on attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, who has returned to team training after the circulatory problems that forced him off against Villarreal. His availability will be decided closer to kickoff, while Giannis Konstantelias remains out with a knee injury.
The Betting Verdict
This is a tough one for me. Borussia Dortmund have started perfectly, but I don't love how they play away from home, especially against a VfB Stuttgart side that has already beaten them four times in the last six meetings.
VfB Stuttgart's own league form is mixed, but they have looked much better at home (a 4-1 win against Koln and a 3-1 win against Viking) and have enough going forward to make this a proper test. At around 2.30–2.40, I think the hosts are worth a chance.
My top bet is VfB Stuttgart to win. I can see them edging another close game, with 2-1 my pick.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take VfB Stuttgart to win at odds of 2.35 with Bet365
