Preview: Stuttgart vs. Atlético de Madrid · prediction, team news, line-ups

VfB Stuttgart host Atletico Madrid at the MHP Arena on Tuesday 20 October (13:00 Mexico City time) in matchday three of the Champions League league phase.

The Germans are fourth with six points, while the Spanish side sit 15th on three points in the 36-team table.

Match preview

Stuttgart have made a flawless start in Europe. They have six points from two games, a goal difference of +5 and a place in the fourth spot, inside the direct round-of-16 zone. At home they have won one from one, scoring three and conceding one.

They beat Viking 3-1 at the MHP Arena and thrashed Slovan Bratislava 3-0 away last week. Ermedin Demirovic has led the way, and his four goals make him the club's record scorer in the competition.

The picture in the Bundesliga is very different. Stuttgart lost 1-0 at Hamburg on Saturday and, according to WhoScored, have lost three of their last four league games. Before that, they won 2-0 at Paderborn.

There is an awkward statistic for Sebastian Hoeness's side. They have failed to win any of their last seven Champions League matches against LaLiga opposition, drawing two and losing five.

Atletico arrive on a five-match winning run across all competitions. They beat Espanyol 1-0 thanks to a late Alex Baena goal, Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League, Alaves 2-1, Real Madrid 2-1 and Osasuna 4-0.

In those five games they scored 11 and conceded only two. In La Liga they are second, five points behind Barcelona.

In the Champions League they have three points. They won 2-0 at home to United and lost 1-2 on their travels, which is their only away game in the competition so far.

Their record in Germany is a concern. Sports Mole note that Atletico have not won away at a Bundesliga club in Europe since a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2016-17 round of 16.

The sides have no previous competitive meetings. Stuttgart want to stay in the direct qualification places, while Atletico are looking to climb from 15th.

Team news

Stuttgart have a lengthy injury list. Ameen Al-Dakhil (knee), Tiago Tomas and Justin Diehl (both muscle) are out, and Dan-Axel Zagadou is also unavailable according to Hoeness. Stergiou and Drljaca are not part of the squad. Nikolas Nartey is a doubt with a muscle problem.

Maximilian Mittelstadt returns to the squad after recovering from a heel laceration, although it is unclear whether he will start. UEFA project Seimen in goal, but other outlets mention Bredlow, who played in Bratislava. Promel and Stiller would form the midfield pivot, with Demirovic leading the line.

Diego Simeone is without Koke, who has a muscle injury, and Cristian Romero, who is out for 10 to 12 days with an adductor strain. Marc Pubill should partner David Hancko at centre-back. Johnny Cardoso looks set to return after recovering from gastroenteritis.