Dortmund’s games often have an element of chaos to them, while Stuttgart are also stronger in attack than at the back. With both teams close in the table, this could be an open and entertaining affair.
Pick:
Back over 3.5 goals
How to Watch Stuggart vs Borussia Dortmund
| Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund |
| What |
Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund |
| Where |
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, Germany |
| When |
Saturday, 10 April 2021, 12.30 PM EDT |
| How to watch |
Watch on ESPN+ here! |
With seven games of the season remaining, Borussia Dortmund are not where they would want to be. Last summer, they would have hoped to be within touching distance of top spot in the Bundesliga at this late stage of the campaign. Instead, they find themselves down in fifth place, with a sizable gap of seven points separating them from fourth.
Dortmund probably needs a minimum of five wins from their remaining matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. A trip to Stuttgart will not be easy, but this could be an entertaining watch for the neutrals with more than 3.5 goals a distinct possibility. From a betting perspective, that is the best option here.
Borussia Dortmund Must Now Focus on Their Top-Four Push
Dortmund were narrowly edged out by Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday. There was certainly no shame in losing 2-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium, and Edin Terzic’s side still have a chance of progressing at City’s expense next week. Indeed, the away goal they scored courtesy of Marco Reus in the 84th minute could yet be significant, even though Dortmund were unable to prevent Phil Foden from notching a winner soon after.
Realistically, though, BVB are not going to win the Champions League this term. Getting past City will surely be beyond them, for Pep Guardiola’s men are in magnificent form and are deservedly Draft Kings’ favorites to lift the trophy. Even if Dortmund do advance, they will face either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. Given the inconsistency they have shown throughout this campaign, it is extremely difficult to envisage them claiming the biggest prize in European soccer.
The Yellow-Blacks should instead focus their attention on the Bundesliga. Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt leaves them seven points adrift of the Champions League spots, and another defeat here could end their chances of qualifying for next season’s edition. That would be a huge blow not only to morale but also to the club’s entire business model. It could force them to cash in on some of their most sellable assets this summer, with Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho drawing admiring glances from elsewhere.
Dortmund have at times struggled to raise their game for run-of-the-mill encounters this season, but the pressure is on now and they simply must respond. Expect them to go out and attack Stuttgart from the first whistle on Saturday, which could result in an attractive contest.
Editor’s Picks
Stuttgart Pushing For European Qualification in Fine Season
Stuttgart have their own prize to play for, although like Dortmund it is not the one they were anticipating at the start of the season. Many fans of the club would have happily settled for mere survival following promotion last time out, but Stuttgart have exceeded expectations. They will move to within a point of Dortmund with a victory here and are still contenders for Europa League qualification.
Pellegrino Matarazzo deserves great credit for the job he has done at the Mercedez-Benz Arena. Appointed at the end of 2019, he steered Stuttgart to promotion back to the Bundesliga, chiefly by improving their attack. His side scored at least once in 14 of his 16 league games in charge last term.
Stuttgart have continued in the same vein this season when it would have been easy for the team to go into its shell. They have scored 48 goals up to now – more than Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, and the same number as second-placed RB Leipzig. Only Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Dortmund have out-scored them, which is a remarkable achievement given Stuttgart were still in the 2. Bundesliga less than a year ago.
Matarazzo’s strategy has brought some big wins and some hefty defeats, but he will not compromise on an attack-minded approach that has seen his team take the fourth-most shots in the division.
Attacking Talent Means This Game Could Feature Plenty of Goals
Dortmund are not short on attacking talent, with only Bayern having found the back of the net more often than them this season. Stuttgart cannot match BVB for individual quality at the top of the pitch, but they still possess excellent firepower of their own and will be encouraged to go at Dortmund by their proactive manager.
There is another reason why goals could be on the cards. As mentioned above, a defeat here would in effect end Dortmund’s Champions League hopes. Faced with such a scenario, many teams would pack men behind the ball and take a cautious approach, but doing so would be counterproductive for BVB. They are much better going forward than at the back, and Terzic will instruct his charges to play to their strengths.
Stuttgart are not as desperate for points as Dortmund are, but everything we have seen from them this term suggests they will approach the match in their usual manner. As such, we could see plenty of penalty-box action on Saturday, with neither side likely to settle for a point. The goals market is the one to look at in this game.
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