Last Friday’s 2-1 loss to Hannover was the last straw for Stuttgart coach Jens Keller, who was sacked shortly after the match. Former Hamburg and Leverkusen coach Bruno Labbadia has been called in to serve as the Swabians’ third coach of the season following Keller and Christian Gross.
Having been dismissed from his previous two positions, Labbadia insists he is a changed man, and can learn from his previous mistakes. Known as a perfectionist who sometimes took discipline too far, the 44-year old now knows he “wanted too much, too quickly.”
Stuttgart president Erwin Staudt gave his vote of support this week: “We have talked at length about the reasons [for his previous problems]. He explained everything to us. It’s to his credit that he spoke about his mistakes unprompted and told us about situations he learned from.”
Labbadia inherits a team that has been impressive in the Europa League, but has failed to live up to its potential domestically. Through 16 matches, the 2007 Bundesliga champions have earned just 12 points, and are languishing second from bottom in the domestic table. On the plus side, Labbadia takes over at an opportune moment.
Sunday’s match is almost a “freebie,” and he will have a fresh, new campaign to prepare for after the winter break. Stuttgart are historically strong finishers, and could perhaps repeat their previous successes this spring. But for now, there is the Bayern match to focus upon.
Mario Gomez Relishing Reunion With Former Club
Bayern maintained their impressive home form last week, earning a 3-0 win against St Pauli. It is on the road, however, where the Bavarians are woefully underperforming, having taken just one victory thus far. The reigning Bundesliga champions now have a chance to redeem themselves somewhat as they take on a struggling Stuttgart side at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The match will also double as a warm-up for next Wednesday’s DFB Pokal encounter.
Sunday’s clash will be extra special for striker Mario Gomez, who returns to the Mercedes-Benz Arena for just the second time since transferring to Bayern in the summer of 2009. The striker who scored 87 goals in 156 appearances for his former employers, failed to get his name on the scoresheet last year. However, he hopes to put his best foot forward in the first of two upcoming reunions against his former club.
“I still have a lot of friends in Stuttgart, and there are a number of players in the team who I spent years playing alongside. One of my best personal friends plays for them,” he said according to the official Bayern website.
“But at the end of the day, it’s about us taking the last three points on offer before the winter break.”
TEAM NEWS
Stuttgart
It always is somewhat difficult to predict a line-up when a new coach introduced, but word from Swabia is that Labbadia will use a 4-4-2 formation, with Pavel Pogrebnyak re-introduced in the starting XI. Ciprian Marica remains suspended, and Stefano Celozzi, Johan Audel and Daniel Didavi have all been ruled out with injuries.
Probable Starting XI: Ulreich – Degen, Tasci, Depierre, Molinaro – Gebhart, Traesch, Gentner, Boka – Pogrebnyak, Cacau
Bayern Munich
There was positive news from the Bayern camp this week as Arjen Robben was declared fit to return to training. On the flip side of the coin, Toni Kroos was ruled out until January with a foot injury. In addition to Robben and Kroos, Holger Badstuber, Ivica Olic, and Danijel Pranjic will miss out on this wekend’s match with inuries.
Probable Starting XI: Butt – Lahm, Tymoshchuk, Breno, Contento – Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger – Altintop, Mueller, Ribery – Gomez
Prediction
Based on overall form, this one should go to Bayern. However, the Bavarians have won just one away game, and thus cannot be considered favourites. Stuttgart have lost half of their home matches, but should be able to earn a draw if they play to their potential.
VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Bayern Munich 
