Fri. 8/10 Bundesliga

[sardius]

1 $trong play for Friday:





Bundesliga




VfB Stuttgart- FC Schalke 04 2-2



VfB Stuttgart +135 LOST :00x32


Champions against runners-up. Both teams have some new signings and some injury problems. Stuttgart will miss Mario Gomez, Delpierre and Bast?rk. Shalke will miss Abel,Varela and H?wedes and most of all unsigned Lincoln. Last 3 meetings in Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium were won by the home team 3-0, 2-0 and 3-0. Another 2-0?

VfB Stuttgart:
Goalkeeper
Sch?fer
Defense
Osorio,Tasci,Fernando Meira,Boka
Midfielders
Pardo,Hilbert,Khedira,Hitzelsberger
Forwards
Cacau,Marica

Schalke 04:
Goalkeeper
Neuer
Defense
Rafinha,Bordon,Kristajic,Pander
Midfield
Ernst,Kobiashvilli,?zil
Forwards
Asamoah,Kuranyi,L?venkrands



GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[sardius]

Match preview from GOAL:

Date:10.08.2007 20:30
Venue: Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart

Referee: Fandel (Kyllburg)
Assistants: Pickel (Mendig), Willenborg (Osnabr?ck)
Fourth Official: Sather (Grimma)

VfB Stuttgart (4-1-4-1): R. Sch?fer; Osorio, Tasci, Fernando Meira, Boka; Pardo; Hilbert, Khedira, da Silva, Hitzlsperger; Marica

Schalke 04 (4-2-1-3): Neuer; Rafinha, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander; F. Ernst, Kobiashvili; ?zil; Asamoah, Kuranyi, L?venkrands

Last Season: 3-0
Last 5 Fixtures in Stuttgart: 3-0, 2-0, 3-0, 0-0, 1-1
Overall: Stuttgart 25, Schalke 9, Draws 3

And so, we're off. Season 45 in the great scheme of things opens in Stuttgart tonight with the newly-crowned champions confronting the team they beat in the race for the championship less than three short months ago.

Let there be no doubt: Stuttgart fully deserved their title. By winning their last eight matches in a row, Armin Veh's team showed character and resolve at a time when others, notably Werder Bremen, Bayern M?nchen, and tonight's opponents were dropping points at an alarming rate.

Therein lies the charge levelled at Schalke: mental weakness. Leading for most of the way, Mirko Slomka's team crumbled when it mattered, dropping points at neighbours Bochum and Dortmund to allow the fast-finishing Swabians in.

Tonight, there will be much talk of revenge and of score-settling. None of it amounts to anything more than a hat of crabs. The focus for both sides is not what went before, but what lies ahead.

Once again, the champions must do without star striker Mario Gomez. A thigh strain keeps him out of the season opener and threatens his availability for the early weeks of the campaign. Adding to Veh's problems is strike partner, Cacau. The Brazilian is a serious doubt for the game. If he loses both attackers, the coach will opt for a 4-1-4-1 formation with new arrival Ciprian Marica alone up front. Sadly, the new campaign has come much too soon for sumptuously talented Yildiray Bast?rk, a new signing from Hertha BSC.

Slomka is without Halil Altintop who has a heel problem. Gerald Asamoah's good form in the DFB Pokal last weekend is enough to ensure a start in his stead, and he should join Kevin Kuranyi, formerly of Stuttgart, in attack.

Recent form suggests a Stuttgart win, with the Blues failing to score on their last three visits. However, these two sides have been well-matched over the last five years, with Schalke edging the overall balance: four wins to Stuttgart's three in the last 10 meetings. There is little between them.

Pushed to call it, this observer would lean toward the home side with some reservations. If the title celebrations have been shaken from the collective system, I can't see Stuttgart falling flat in front of their own adoring fans. Schalke have more to prove, but the best they'll manage is a draw if Veh has succeeded in keeping the new champions focused. 1-0.

 

[Zerwas]

Hard luck. Stuttgart was the better team...but thats football.

 

[husky]

I also believe you had the correct call Sardius.

Bad beat.

Keep up the good worck buddy; looking foward to your next post.

Husky.