Bundesliga
Stuttgart hitting Europa groove
Back-to-back wins have sent VfB Stuttgart flying up the UEFA Europa League standings before their sixth game at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday (kick-off: 6.45pm CET).
Stuttgart have claimed comfortable victories over Dutch opposition, winning 4-0 a fortnight ago at Go Ahead Eagles after a 2-0 triumph at home to over Feyenoord thanks to late goals from Bilal El Khannouss and Deniz Undav.
Those results helped make up for defeats at Fenerbahce (1-0) and Basel (2-0), after opening with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo.
A total of nine points puts Sebastian Hoeneß’s side in 12th place in the 36-team table with three games to go, which would mean a seeded place in the knockout play-offs, but only one point outside the coveted top eight.
Maccabi’s trip to Stuttgart is one of two to Germany in the league phase, also visiting Freiburg in the next game after the winter break. The Israeli champions drew 0-0 at PAOK in the opening match but have since lost to Dinamo Zagreb (3-1), Midtjylland (3-0), Aston Villa (2-0) and Lyon (6-0) to sit second bottom of the standings above the only pointless team, Nice.
LIVE blog!
{{dayName}}, {{day}}. {{monthNameShort}} {{hourTwoDigit}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}} {{timeZoneNameShort}}
Stuttgart
Tel Aviv
123s
vs
Stuttgart stunned
Stuttgart fell to their first defeat at home in the Bundesliga this season on Saturday, losing 5-0 to Bayern. Given the champions' rampant form, they will hope to be able to shake that off.
vs
Welcome!
Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of VfB Stuttgart's Europa League encounter at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv on Matchday 6 of the league phase, which kicks off at 6.45pm CET on Thursday.