- Stuttgart have won multiple of the prior competitive and friendly matches between the two clubs.
- VfB Stuttgart have won three of their last five games (W3, D1, L1), averaging over 2.5 goals per game.
- BSC Young Boys have lost four of their last five matches, conceding 17 goals in that span.
Stuttgart seek top seeding in Europa League
VfB Stuttgart will take the advantage into their clash with BSC Young Boys Bern at the MHPArena on Thursday as the German Bundesliga club is currently above the Swiss Super League side in the Europa League league-phase table.
Stuttgart have 12 points to Young Boys’ 9 going into Matchday 8, so a win for the hosts will earn them a top seeding in the 2025-2026 edition of the competition and direct entry into the round of 16.
Young Boys are in danger of dropping out of the qualification places altogether if they fail to reverse their poor form of late, having lost four of their last five in all competitions. They were hammered 4 - 1 at Thun on Saturday before falling apart at home to Grasshoppers on Sunday, losing 6 - 2.
Cold conditions could suit the hosts
Cold and heavy conditions could favour a physical and well-organised Stuttgart side to take advantage of the gaps created by Young Boys’ high pressing game.
VfB boss Sebastian Hoeneß has made a real impact since January, using his flexible 4-2-3-1 system to rotate his midfielders, overload the wings and attack quickly with possession or on the break.
A 3 - 0 thrashing away at Gladbach and a 4 - 1 statement win over Leverkusen have rocketed Stuttgart into the top five in the Bundesliga, while Young Boys’ slide has seen them fall to around sixth domestically.
Gerardo Seoane’s men play with narrow central overloads, high pressing and fast transitions out wide where his full-backs and forwards bomb on.
Young Boys have no away support
Unfortunately, Young Boys will not have their travelling supporters behind them for this match as UEFA has not allowed them in due to UEFA sanctions.
It seems like a big disadvantage to not have your travelling supporters with you and the mentality of the visiting team could be affected as a consequence.
Ermedin Demirović remains Stuttgart’s biggest goal threat, but Jamie Leweling has been in great form too, finding the net with a direct run in the recent 3 - 0 win at Gladbach.
Deniz Undav has been their ‘super sub’ lately, coming off the bench and providing a clinical edge that could be decisive in the second half.
Stuttgart have the edge
Betting on Stuttgart to win at 1.3 looks a non-runner given the recent form of the two sides and the bookies have been very generous to Young Boys at 8.5, even though the visitors are in free-fall.
There is an obvious edge to Hoeneß’s men, who should win with a bit in hand, so the main selection will be a Stuttgart win with a predicted 2 - 0 correct score as the visitors have conceded 17 goals in their last five matches.
A 3 - 1 home win is the alternative correct score as Stuttgart have hit multiple goals in recent matches and Young Boys have been leaking goals.
Over 2.5 goals looks a very short price at 1.48, but it is still the best play in this game as Young Boys’ defensive record is awful and they have nothing to lose.
