Hansa Rostock vs Stuttgart 13/08/19

13 August 2019

Hansa Rostock and Stuttgart go head-to-head at the Ostseestadion for their DFB Pokal tie.

Stuck in the 3. Liga for five years now, the hosts have not enjoyed the best of starts to the new league season, picking up just one triumph in the opening four league games (W1, D1, L2). While both of their defeats came away from home and ended with the same 1-0 scoreline, the other two of their competitive matches this term have produced over 2.5 goals and seen both teams score. Although ‘Hanseaten’ suffered just one loss in their previous eight competitive home games, they’ve pulled off only two wins across that period (W2, D5, L1), with six of those matches witnessing goals at both ends. However, Hansa’s recent home H2H record against Stuttgart indicates they can make something out here, as they’ve outplayed the Reds in their last four H2H encounters at this venue.

Meanwhile, the visitors failed to preserve their Bundesliga status last season and are now competing in the 2. Bundesliga. After a 2-1 home triumph over Hannover in the league opener, they have been held to a 2-2 away draw by Heidenheim last time out although they’ve had a two-goal lead less than 15 minutes before the final whistle. Stuttgart’s recent games have not been short of entertainment though, with all nine of their previous matches producing over 2.5 goals while eight of them seeing both teams score. But, judging on their recent H2H record against Hansa (W1, L4), it looks like a daunting prospect for Tim Walter’s men to pick up a win here. Additionally, the Swabians are still searching for their elusive first away triumph in a competitive game in 2019, having struggled to secure a victory on ten road trips since the turn of the year (D4, L6).