VfB Stuttgart vs Werder Bremen: Probable line-ups and match stats

Worries of relegation an all but distant memory, VfB Stuttgart entertain Werder Bremen on Saturday (kick-off: 03:30 PM CEST/ 01:30 PM GMT/ 09:30 AM EST), in a meeting between two of the calendar year's most-improved sides.

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It's been a whirlwind few months for Stuttgart. The 2007 Bundesliga champions had slipped to within three points of the relegation zone when head coach Hannes Wolf was sacked and Tayfun Korkut brought in as his replacement at the end of January. Die Schwaben have roared back, though, amassing 19 points from a possible 30 since, only losing to Borussia Dortmund and stringing together a four-game unbeaten run on home soil along the way. Influential midfielder Santiago Ascacibar returns after sitting out last weekend's 1-1 draw against Hannover through suspension, with Dennis Aogo most likely to make way as Stuttgart go in search of a first win in three matches.

Bremen's revival under Florian Kohfeldt has been just as impressive. The 35-year-old has steered the Green-Whites from second bottom to 12th in the standings since taking over from Alexander Nouri in November, opening up a sizable seven-point cushion on the relegation play-off spot with four rounds of fixtures to play. Werder took a point off RB Leipzig last time out, but will be without Thomas Delaney for this one after the Denmark midfielder collected his fifth yellow card of the season. Jerome Gondorf could come in, while forward Ishak Belfodil - another second-half substitute on Matchday 30 - will be hoping to reclaim his place in the side at the expense of winter signing Milot Rashica.

Watch: Bremen's Max Kruse sees positives in Leipzig draw

Probable line-ups

Stuttgart: Zieler – Pavard, Baumgartl, Badstuber, Insua – Gentner, Ascacibar, Aogo, Thommy – Ginczek, GomezAbsentees: Mane (thigh), Akolo (tonsillitis), Beck (knee)Coach: Tayfun Korkut

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Friedl – M. Eggestein, Bargfrede, Gondorf – Junuzovic, Kruse, BelfodilAbsentees: Delaney (suspended), Zetterer (wrist), Augustinsson (thigh), Bartels (Achilles tendon), Zhang (work permit), Manneh (ankle), Johannsson (ankle)Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Match stats

Click here for the VfB Stuttgart vs. Werder Bremen Match Centre!