Hertha Berlin will be looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats prior to the international break when they continue their 2020-21 Bundesliga campaign at home to Stuttgart on Saturday.
The visitors were promoted from the second tier of German football last season and have made a decent impression upon their instant return to the top flight, picking up one win, one draw and one defeat from their opening three matches.
Match preview
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Admittedly there was absolutely no shame in Hertha's most recent defeat, with Robert Lewandowski's four goals - including a last minute penalty - earning reigning champions Bayern Munich the three points in a dramatic 4-3 win at the Allianz Arena.
Jhon Cordoba, Matheus Cunha and Jessic Ngankam's goals were ultimately in vain despite a valiant display from the away side against the European champions.
On the plus side, Cunha and Cordoba, who was signed from FC Koln for around £13.5m in the summer having scored 13 goals in 29 league games last season, appear to be forging a terrific strike partnership with two goals each in three matches so far this campaign, with both scoring in the opening day 4-1 win at Werder Bremen.
Die Alte Dame's manager Bruno Labbadia actually took charge of Stuttgart between 2010 and 2013, so he will desperately be hoping his forwards can help fire his side to a first home win of the season against his former club.
Forty-two-year-old Pellegrino Matarazzo is in charge of Stuttgart these days and it would be fair to say that he is a lot less experienced at this level than his counterpart.
Indeed, this is the former Hoffenheim assistant's first full season as a head coach at any level, having only taken over Die Roten last December before guiding them to promotion in June.
However, after losing 3-2 at home to SC Freiburg on the opening matchday, his side have since impressed with a 4-1 victory at Mainz 05 and a 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen.
Austrian forward Sasa Kalajdzic in particular has followed in his manager's footsteps in taking to the Bundesliga like a duck to water, scoring once in all three matches.
The 23-year-old, who at 6ft 7in tall will prove a handful for any opposing defender this season, tore his cruciate ligament only weeks after signing for the club in July 2019, but is putting his injury issues well and truly behind him now.
There can be little doubting his talent and promise, especially given that he reportedly attracted interest from Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa before his move from Austrian side Admira Wacker to South-West Germany.
Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form: WLL
Hertha Berlin form (all competitions): LWLL
Stuttgart Bundesliga form: LWD
Stuttgart form (all competitions): WLWD
Team News
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Former AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek is unlikely to return to Hertha's starting lineup having failed to score in his two starts this season.
New signing Cordoba, who replaced the Poland international against Bayern, is likely to retain his place instead given his excellent form and promising understanding with Cunha.
Captain Dedryck Boyata shook off an Achilles injury to start at Bayern and Labbadia will be hoping his central defender's injury is now firmly behind him, while Javairo Dilrosun and Arne Maier have recovered from hamstring and knee issues respectively.
Jordan Torunarigha (ankle) and Mathew Leckie (neck) are likely to remain out for several weeks, however.
Matarazzo was without six players in Stuttgart's draw with Leverkusen, with Konstantinos Mavropanos's surprise return to the starting XI perhaps ill advised after the former Arsenal defender had to be substituted in the 70th minute. It is unclear whether he will recover for the trip to the Olympiastadion.
Pascal Stenzel will return from suspension and Philipp Forster should be available, but Clinton Mola, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lilian Egloff and Maxime Awoudja are likely to be out for at least a few more weeks.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Pekarik, Stark, Boyata, Mittelstadt; Zeefuik, Darida, Tousart, Lukebakio; Cunha, Cordoba
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Stenzel, Anton, Kempf; Endo; Wamangituka, Sosa, Mangala, Castro; Didavi, Kalajdzic
We say: Hertha Berlin 2-1 Stuttgart
Both sides have shown an ability to create chances and score goals so far this season so we expect to see a fairly open, entertaining game at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
After losing two games in a row, however, we think Hertha may have added motivation as well as a little more quality in midfield and attack in order to fire their way to a first home win of the season.
