One of the main underdogs of the current Champions League season, Slovan Bratislava, would likely have preferred not to start their 2025 official match schedule against Stuttgart. The Swabians are in excellent form, and their trip to Slovakia should yield crucial points that could propel them into the playoff zone.
Following their defeat to Atlético Madrid (1:3), Slovan Bratislava remain one of the three teams in the European competition yet to secure a single point, alongside Young Boys and RB Leipzig. The Bratislava club have conceded 21 goals, the second-worst in the standings, and have allowed 11 goals at home, making theirs the poorest defence in the tournament. Slovan Bratislava are suffering from a lack of match fitness, having last played an official game in the first half of December.
Stuttgart have enjoyed three consecutive victories in the January rounds of the Bundesliga, earning a place in the top four of the league. On Saturday, the team overpowered Freiburg (4:0), with new key forwards Ermedin Demirovic and Nick Woltemade scoring by half-time. Before the break, the Swabians dealt decisively with Young Boys (5:1) in the sixth round of the Champions League, generating 2.33 xG, successfully translating their attacking aggression into the European competition.
It's unlikely that Slovan Bratislava, even with home support in Bratislava, will put up much of a fight against Stuttgart. We anticipate a win for the Germans with a handicap.
