Stuttgart and Wolfsburg will both be chasing their second win of the new Bundesliga season when they meet at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 15:30CEST/13:30GMT).
Form
Looking to make it two wins from two on home turf, Stuttgart have few new injury concerns coming into this one. After missing last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Schalke with a groin strain, Holger Badstuber is touch and go to feature on Saturday when the Wolves come calling. Elsewhere, Emiliano Insua remains absent, as does attacking midfielder Carlos Mane.
Without Mario Gomez after the Germany international suffered an ankle injury in last weekend's 1-1 home draw with local rivals Hannover, Wolfsburg coach Andries Jonker will turn to Divock Origi - who impressed on debut last week - to lead the line. The Belgian, on loan from Liverpool, has already said that he "would like to contribute to our success with assists and goals."
At the other end of the field, there is a mounting injury crisis for the Wolves: three centre-backs - John Brooks, Jeffrey Bruma and Marcel Tisserand - are all out of this one, while another, Felix Uduokhai, is suffering with illness. Midfielder Ignacio Camacho could deputise in the heart of defence.
Watch: Divock Origi impressed on his Bundesliga debut last weekend
Probable line-ups
Stuttgart: Zieler - Pavard, Baumgartl, Kaminski - Beck, Ascacibar, Gentner (c), Aogo - Brekolo, Akolo - Terodde
Absentees: Badstuber (groin), Insua (knee), Zimmermann (ligament damage), Ginczek (knee)
Coach: Hannes Wolf
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Verhaegh, Knoche, Camacho, Gerhardt - Arnold (c), Guilavogui - Didavi, Malli, Ntep - Origi
Absentees: Brooks (thigh), Bruma (match fitness), Uduokhai (illness), Tisserand (thigh), Gomez (ankle)
Coach: Andries Jonker
Match Stats
For the fifth top-flight season in a row, Stuttgart have lost at least two of their first three games.On the other hand, VfB are unbeaten at home in 2017, with eight wins and two draws at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.Stuttgart have lost seven of their last eight games against Wolfsburg - the only exception a 3-1 home win in December 2015.The Wolves won the last Bundesliga encounter between the teams by a 3-1 scoreline in May 2016 - a result that confirmed Stuttgart's relegation to Bundesliga 2.Wolfsburg midfielder Daniel Didavi came through the Stuttgart youth system, and scored three of VfB's four goals against the Wolves in 2015/16. This season, he has scored both of the Wolves' Bundesliga goals (1-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt and 1-1 against Hannover).Simon Terodde scored 25 goals for Stuttgart in Bundesliga 2 last term, setting a new single-season record for the club. Injured Wolfsburg captain Mario Gomez hit 24 for VfB in the 2008/09 Bundesliga campaign.
Source: bundesliga.com