Stuttgart must avoid historic loss as Gladbach visit Bad Cannstatt

VfB Stuttgart host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday evening at the MHP Arena in Bad Cannstatt, and the home side must win to avoid becoming the first VfL team to lose all seven Bundesliga matches at the start of a season, a historic negative record that Pau Kann hopes to prevent.

Stuttgart head into the clash with ten players unavailable, a situation that does not ease the task for the Swabians. On Friday the club confirmed that defender Kevin Diks will miss the game for private reasons, adding to the list of absences. The shortage forces the Fohlen to reshuffle their options ahead of the decisive encounter.

New Borussia Mönchengladbach manager Alexander Blessin enters his third league match with the club after defeats in Cologne and at home to Hoffenheim. The early setbacks compel him to adjust his tactics once more. Blessin will be looking to reverse the trend and keep his side clear of the looming record.

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Stuttgart's altered lineup

VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß has activated his rotation policy, tweaking the starting eleven compared with the recent 1‑1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Captain Deniz Undav finds himself on the bench, as does defensive leader Jeff Chabot. The changes aim to inject freshness while coping with the injury list.

Gladbach's starting eleven and key options

Gladbach line‑up features a back three of Daiki Hashioka, Philipp Sander and Fabio Chiarodia, with the latter two forming part of a makeshift midfield trio alongside the Czech loanee. In attack, Shuto Machino receives another opportunity after limited impact in the Fohlen shirt, benefitting from the absences of Tim Kleindienst and Isac Lidberg. The squad also includes forward Nicolas, while the defensive unit comprises Hashioka, Sander, Chiarodia, and the usual back‑line.

Stuttgart board member warns Bundesliga rivals may overtake them

Both clubs arrive with contrasting recent form: Stuttgart demonstrated their potential in a narrow Champions League draw, whereas Gladbach have yet to secure a league win under Blessin. The Friday night fixture therefore carries high stakes, with the Fohlen needing a victory to keep their Bundesliga campaign alive.