Stuttgart aim to build on Juve win against Atalanta

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Stuttgart prepared for this clash with a goalless draw away at reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, and they will also be looking to build on their 1-0 victory over Juventus in their last Champions League outing. They do head into this clash with a few injury issues to contend with, most notably Jamie Leweling, who was forced off with a muscle injury at the BayArena and is therefore unavailable here. Also definitely on the sidelines are Dan-Axel Zagadou and Luca Raimund, while it remains to be seen whether Leonidas Stergiou and Yannik Keitel can be involved. Centre-back Jeff Chabot has missed the last two games through suspension and a muscular injury, but Sebastian Hoeneß expects to have his defensive leader back here. There is a good dilemma for Die Schwaben up top where Deniz Undav is almost certain to start, but there is a decision to be made between Juve conqueror and Atalanta loanee El Bilal Touré and Ermedin Demirović, who has enjoyed a solid start to the campaign since his arrival from Augsburg.

UEFA Europa League holders Atalanta come into this fixture in good form. They were convincing in their 3-0 victory over Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday, with ex-RB Leipzig forward Ademola Lookman particularly impressive as he bagged a brace. They are unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions, while they have five points from the opening three matches in this tournament without conceding. Mateo Retegui, the Italian top flight's leading goalscoring with 11 strikes, was surprisingly named on the bench versus Napoli but came on to find the back of the net - you would expect him to return to the starting line-up here. Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca are both ruled out of this clash with cruciate ligament injuries, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has now been in the role for eight years, otherwise has a full squad to choose from.

Watch: Stuttgart's Mr Unpredictable, Deniz Undav

Match stats

• This is the first competitive meeting between Stuttgart and Atalanta.
• Touré is on loan at Stuttgart from Atalanta and has already scored as many goals in 11 games for VfB as he got in 17 for the Italians last season (three). 
• Enzo Millot has created 10 chances in the Champions League this season – the most in the competition together with Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in.
• Only Manchester City (72) have had more shots than Stuttgart (65) in the Champions League this season.
• Sead Kolašinac had a brief spell in Stuttgart’s academy before emerging at Schalke. Lazar Samardžić (Hertha Berlin and Leipzig), Lookman (Leipzig) and Odilon Kossounou (Leverkusen) have also played in the Bundesliga.
• Atalanta are yet to concede in three Champions League games this season but have also been responsible for half of the goalless draws in the competition’s league phase (two out of four).

Probable teams

Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Millot, Karazor (c), Stiller, Führich - Touré, Undav
Out: Leweling (hamstring), Raimund (thigh), Zagadou (knee)
Doubtful: Keitel (groin), Stergiou (back)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Atalanta: Carnesecchi - Djimsiti (c), Hien, Kolašinac - Bellanova, de Roon - Éderson, Zappacosta - Pašalić - Retegui, Lookman
Out: Scalvini (cruciate ligament), Scamacca (cruciate ligament)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini

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