CL preview: FC Sevilla v VfB Stuttgart

By: Pete | November 4th, 2009

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Sevilla has an opportunity to officially wrap up 1st place in the group with a win home against Stuttgart, and they have to feel mighty good about their prospects having never lost a CL match at home. Die Schwaben will be looking to at least steal a point here if not all three. Much of Stuttgart’s fate actually lies more in the hands of Unirea than their own. Playing against Rangers tonight in Romania they have a chance to widen the gap against Stuttgart with a win. For Stuttgart to have a realistic (though fading) chance of qualifying Rangers need to step their game up and at least draw if not outright win. Then, you know, Stuttgart will have to win out and still hope Sevilla doesn’t mail it in.

But that’s much further down the road, friends. Let’s focus on tonight. One can never be sure what side Babbel will field, but with Cacau injured and Ciprian Marica picking up a slight knock over the weekend (groin) I’d be surprised to see anyone other than Schieber and Pogrebnyak up front. Osorio, Träsch, and Khedira will also be unavailable with injuries. Here’s what Babbel had to say ahead of the critical trip to Spain:

“The game against Bayern gave us a bit of a boost. We were solid at the back, didn’t allow them to create many chances and, at the same time, managed to forge some openings of our own. If we can play that way against Sevilla, and maybe repeat the sort of performance we put in during the home game against them two weeks ago, then we have the class needed to take something positive back to Stuttgart from Spain with us.”

Right on brotha. As I mentioned in my previous post, I was most encouraged by the backline play against Bayern more than anything else. If Stuttgart can put it all together, that kind of defense and the same attacking style they put in against Sevilla last time, we may have something here. Stuttgart’s biggest problems last time were man marking with set pieces and other balls sent into the box. They were beaten by two headers and a poor goalie blunder. Fabiano was essentially invisible last time around and it’s got to be the same today too.

I’d like to see a little more of this again too- comment before, during, and after the match. I’ll be around-