VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli Prediction: Betting Preview

We are here with a VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview for a clash that has implications for both ends of the Bundesliga table. The home side are strongly favoured to secure victory against the struggling visitors but it is one of the goal markets that appears to offer best value in this one. 

That angle of attack is something that is usually fruitful in the German Bundesliga with its 126 games played so far this season producing 408 goals at an average of 3.24. With 76 of those games (60%) seeing both teams contributing to the scoring. 

VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli Prediction 1: Net profits expected with both sides coming to the goals party

Germany, Bundesliga, Saturday, December 21st, 14:30 (UK)

Stuttgart surprised most observers last season with a stunning second place finish but after a sluggish start to the new campaign a repeat performance seemed very unlikely. However, under Sebastian Hoeneß’s astute management Die Schwaben have won three of their last four league games and have climbed up to 6th in the table.

Hoeneß’s style of making the pitch as big as possible and playing with a constant high tempo lends itself perfectly to playing “both teams to score” here. The stats back that up with only Leverkusen (12) seeing more matches featuring goals from both sides than Stuttgart’s 11. While that translates into this bet landing in a joint league high six of seven clashes at MHPArena.

With St Pauli’s struggles we should see an open, attacking encounter rather than a tight, cagey one. The hosts confident in the fact they can outscore the visitors, something which is once again backed up by a goal difference of 29:24 indicating a team comfortable trading blows with opponents.

Stuttgart have only kept two clean sheets in their 14 league games so far, one coming at home to rock-bottom Bochum the other when visiting second place Leverkusen. While the Kiezkicker have played four of the five teams higher than Stuttgart in the table scoring in three of those fixtures totalling six goals. 

St Pauli’s away record does tell a story of defensive fragility – five defeats from seven road games, conceding 10 goals. Crucially, they seem more capable of scoring on their travels with just three of their 11 league goals coming at their Millerntor-Stadion home. 

This season Alexander Blessin has seen his side lose, but score, in tough away days at Leverkusen (2-1), RB Leipzig (4-2) and Dortmund (2-1) they have only failed to hit the back of the net in two of nine Bundesliga and cup road trips. Only keeping two clean sheets across those games too. 

The historical head-to-head record further bolsters our approach. Their previous encounters, dating back to Bundesliga 2 in 2016, have consistently produced goals from both sides. In four historical matchups, both teams scored in three. Their last top-flight meeting albeit in 2011 also saw both teams score. 

Stuttgart have coped superbly with the departure of Serhou Guirassy to Dortmund with Deniz Undav firing in five goals in nine league games before his injury. Nick Woltemade stepping up in his absence scoring in each of his three appearances in December totalling four goals. The signing of Ermedin Demirovic from Augsburg has also proved to be a masterstroke with the Bosnian following up his 15 goal haul of last season with seven already this term.

The hosts have the potential to run out comfortable winners especially given they have a rare midweek off from competitive action. However, given their tendency to concede and St Pauli’s necessity to gain a positive result, siding with goals at both ends looks the best avenue of attack. 

• VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli Prediction 1: Both Teams To Score Yes (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, December 18th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

VfB Stuttgart vs. St. Pauli Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Prediction: Stuttgart’s St Nick giving the gift of goals

Stuttgart’s recent contract extension with Jamie Leweling until 2029 signals long-term strategic planning, though his current hamstring injury means he won’t feature. He is joined by Nartey, Raimund, Touré, Undav and Zagadou on the sidelines for this clash. Nick Woltemade already set a personal best for Bundesliga goals in a season he will be given the chance to extend his sequence of scoring in every appearance for Stuttgart this month. 

The visitors must do without a whole host of first team options. Ahlers, Burchert, Metcalfe, Mets, Saad, Zoller and Voll are all definitely out while Alexander Blessin will be hoping Banks and Wagner will at least be able to recover from calf and thigh problems to make the bench.

VfB Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nübel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Führich; Woltemade, Demirović

St. Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Nemeth; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui

Match OPTA Stats: Will Pauli penalty poverty run and run?

• No side has covered more distance in the Bundesliga this season than St Pauli’s 1700km – an average of 121km per game
• St Pauli are the only side yet to win a penalty in the current Bundesliga campaign 
• Only Union Berlin (1409) have won more duals than Stuttgart’s 1392 – St Pauli rank bottom having won just 1175.

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.