Friday, April 27, 2012

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28.04. (Sat) 15:30 Bayern Munchen - Stuttgart

UEFA Champions League:  Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich ,Manuel Neuer
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PROBABLE LINEUP
BAYERN MUNICH



Neuer
Rafinha, Boateng, Tymoshchuk, Contento
Kroos, Pranjic
 Robben, Muller, Usami
Olic
STUTTGART


Ulreich
Sakai, Niedermeier, Maza, Molinaro
Kvist, Gentner
Harnik, Hajnal, Schieber
Ibisevic

With a second place finish in the bag, two cup finals to come, and having exerted themselves for 120 minutes in midweek against Real Madrid, Bayern are expected to rest a host of players for the visit of Stuttgart.

Rafinha, Diego Contento, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Takashi Usami, Danijel Pranjic and Ivica Olic can all expect to get a rare start, while Thomas Muller should return to the starting line-up, having spent the majority of the Bernabeu clash on the bench.

Injuries to Breno and Daniel Van Buyten means the defensive duo is unavailable for Saturday's clash, but the Belgian is on his way to full fitness, and could be fit in time for the DFB Pokal showpiece and the Champions League final.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, are set to name their strongest possible line-up as they look to secure a rare victory over their fierce rivals, and strengthen their grip on fifth place.

However, Bruno Labbadia will be forced into one change from the team that drew 1-1 with Koln last week. Serdar Tasci has suffered a medial ligament tear, and will miss the rest of the season.

Maza replaced him during the clash at RheinEnergieStadion, and is set to fill in at the heart of the defence once more. Elsewhere, Johan Audel and Khalid Boulahrouz remain sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Bayern Munich have already beaten Stuttgart twice this season, winning 2-1 at the Mercedes Benz Arena in the Bundesliga, and in the DFB Pokal by 2-0 at the same venue.
  • Additionally, Jupp Heynckes' men have won their last five matches against Stuttgart in all competitions.
  • Mario Gomez has failed to score in his last three games, equalling his longest barren run this season.
  • Stuttgart approach this game in remarkable form - the visitors are unbeaten in their last 10 games.
  • Bruno Labbadia's side have scored 16 goals in the last five games of that run.
  • The Swabians have won just once at the Allianz Arena since the start of the millennium - a 2-1 victory two seasons ago.

Prediction
Bayern Munich's interest in their remaining Bundesliga games will have vanished by now, with a second place finish assured and finals in the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League to come. Stuttgart meanwhile, have been on fantastic form, and having lost twice to the Bavarians, will be anxious to get one over on their local rivals. Accordingly, I'd expect the visitors' greater desire to get them a narrow victory at the Allianz Arena.
Editor's Prediction
Bayern 1-2 VfB Stuttgart