As Juventus prepare to host VfB Stuttgart in the third round of Champions League fixtures on Tuesday evening, Peter Young explains what to expect from The Old Lady’s upcoming Bundesliga opposition.
How Stuttgart replaced goal-per-game Guirassy
Stuttgart were arguably one of the biggest surprise packages in all of Europe last season. Had it not been for an historic, record breaking Bayer-Leverkusen season, Die Scwaben would have walked away as the Bundesliga champions, as they eventually pipped Bayern Munich to second place in the 2023-24 season.
Plenty has changed since then, though. Serhou Guirassy moved to Borussia Dortmund in the summer; The Guinean sensation netted 28 goals from 28 outings last term.
Stuttgart softened the blow by signing last season’s loanee, Deniz Undav, on a permanent deal from Brighton. He grabbed 18 league goals last season and has six from 11 in all competitions so far this term.
Ermedin Demirović was also brought in from Augsburg, and he has hit the ground running, too, hitting five goals from his first six Bundesliga outings. With another goal in the Bundesliga outings, he, too, like Undav, has a record of six goals from 11 games in all competitions.
Another striker in El-Bilal Toure was brought in from Atalanta over the summer. He has largely had to settle for a substitute role, but has earned one Bundesliga start and one goal from his first six league appearances.
Players Juventus should watch
Stuttgart’s strikers, Undav and Demirović are the obvious players Juventus should watch out for in attack. Another would have been Germany international Chris Führich. The 26-year-old winger earned a spot in the national team squad for EURO 2024 off the back of his performances last season, but is expected to miss the Juventus trip through injury.
Maximillian Mittelstädt, the likely starter at left-back, is certainly a player who can cause problems if Juventus afford him the time and space to roam forwards.
Enzo Millot is also making a bit of a name for himself in Germany, and Stuttgart were wise to tie him down to a new, long-term contract at the start of the calendar year.
A creative midfielder, he is capable of starring in midfield, as a trequartista and on the wing when required. He was also part of the France squad that finished second place at the 2024 Olympics under Thierry Henry.
Latest Stuttgart team news
Coach Sebastian Hoeneß, nephew of Bayern Munich legend and former club President Uli Hoeneß, prefers to line up in a 4-2-3-1, which typically features Undav in ‘no. 10’ role behind Demirović.
With Führich out, it is likely that we will see Millot pushed out onto one of the flanks, with Jamie Leweling on the other. Atakan Karazor and Angelo Stiller have been the preferred midfield pairing in both of Stuttgart’s previous Champions League matches this season.
Mittelstädt is expected to start at left-back, with a pairing of Anthony Roualt and Jeff Chabot at centre-back. Either Pascal Stenzel or Joshua Vagnoman could start at right-back.
