Tactics
In every match so far this season, VfB boss Matarazzo has deployed a 3-5-2 formation with Hiroki Ito, Waldemar Anton and Konstantinos Mavropanos forming the three-man defence in front of goalkeeper Florian Müller. Stuttgart have conceded seven goals in the first six Bundesliga matchdays.
In attack, Matarazzo has rotated more. His side appear to be particularly struggling when it comes to chance conversion: 76 attempts on goal puts them ninth in the league, but only six goals have resulted from them.
Absentees
Aurélio Buta (knee), Christopher Lenz (thigh), Jérôme Onguéné (adductor) and Almamy Toure (thigh) remain sidelined, while there’s a question mark over the availability of Luca Pellegrini, who’s struggling with a thigh problem.
The hosts are without the suspended Luca Pfeiffer as well as injured pair Laurin Ulrich (hip flexor) and Josha Vagnoman (foot).
One to watch: Borna Sosa
Borna Sosa starred for Stuttgart last season with nine goal involvements, including eight assists. The 24-year Croatian is now in his fifth campaign with VfB.
- Eight assists and one goal in the Bundesliga as well as a goal and an assist in the DFB Cup in 2021/22
- Set up the most shots on goal for Stuttgart last term (59)
- Six caps for the Croatian senior national team, 19 for the U21s
Statistics and runs
Eintracht are unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga meetings with Stuttgart (W3 D3).
Along with VfL Bochum, the Swabians are the only side who are still winless in this Bundesliga season. In their 56th campaign in the top flight, it’s the first time VfB have been without a victory at this stage.
Coaches head-to-head
Oliver Glasner has come out on top in three of his four Bundesliga games against Matarazzo, drawing the other. The Austrian’s win rate of 75 percent is his highest against any coach who he’s come up against at least four times in the league.
Key battle: Djibril Sow vs. Wataru Endo
Djibril Sow is one of Frankfurt’s runners: with 70.1 kilometres covered in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, the Swiss is third behind Köln’s Ellyes Skhiri and TSG Hoffenheim’s Grischa Prömel.
VfB captain Wataru Endo secured his team’s last-gasp survival with his headed goal in stoppage time on the final day of last season. The 29-year-old is set to make his 100th competitive appearance in the white and red shirt against Frankfurt on Saturday.
