VfB Stuttgart is in a very good position for the second leg of the
Europa League play-off against Slovan Bratislava on Thursday evening. In the first leg Stuttgart had scored the lucky winning goal short before the end.
The VfB Stuttgart had to release several important players before the season and now has some difficulties. After a laboured success against Molde FK (3:2, 2:2) in Europa League qualification, they also didn't look well when won in Bratislava. Last Saturday they lost their first Bundesliga match at Mainz with 0:2. Their defence made several mistakes, so German international Tasci will probably get back in the central defence.
In the first leg Slovan Bratislava tried to get chances through counter attacks initially, which didn't work. In the second half they played more risky and conceded the painful away goal in the 88th minute by substitute Martin Harnik. The Slovakian runners-up is the new league leader of ‘Super Liga' after they beat MFK Ružomberok last Sunday.
VfB Stuttgart - Slovan Bratislava
UEFA Europa League: Play-Off - 2nd leg
Date: 26 August 2010 - 20:00 CET
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz-Arena, Stuttgart
Referee: Aleksei Nikolaev (Russia)
Stuttgart:
Keeper: Ulreich
Defenders: P.Degen - Boulahrouz - Tasci - Molinaro
Midfielders: Gentner - Kuzmanovic - Träsch - Gebhart
Forwards: Cacau - Pogrebnyak
Coach: Gross
Injured: Celozzi - Delpierre
Booked: -
Bratislava:
Keeper: Putnocký
Defenders: Dosoudil - Salata - Dobrotka - Janosik
Midfielders: Bagayoko - Kiss - Bozic - Grendel
Forwards: Ivana - Sylvestr
Coach: Hipp
Injured: -
Booked: -
The Russian referee does international games for the UEFA since 2008.
For Thursday rain is forecasted for Stuttgart.
The only match so far: 1st leg: 19.August 2010, Slovan Bratislava - VfB Stuttgart 0:1
Stuttgart has problems at the moment, but the quality of their team is above the one from Bratislava. Even when a draw would be enough, Stuttgart goes for a win at home, also important for their confidence.
The best odds on Stuttgart to win you can find at
