Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
After a disappointing away leg in Serbia, Stuttgart return home to face the weakest team in the Champions League — Young Boys. The German side are stronger in terms of squad and overall quality, but their current form and issues with finishing leave much to be desired. The visitors also struggle with consistency, but they have pleasantly surprised in some matches, which they could potentially do again in the upcoming game.
Stuttgart
In the previous round, Stuttgart suffered a heavy defeat against Red Star Belgrade (1:5), once again exposing their defensive frailties. Against the Serbian side, they conceded five goals from 11 shots while allowing just 1.47 xG, and they averaged 2.2 goals conceded per match in European competition. Their attack also faces challenges, having scored only four goals in five UCL rounds, never managing more than a single goal in this campaign.
Young Boys
Young Boys have lost all five of their Champions League matches this season and sit at the bottom of the table. Their main weakness lies in their defence, which averages 3.4 goals conceded per game. They also have issues with their finishing — over the last four rounds, they've taken 44 shots, with only five on target, and have scored just twice in five UCL rounds.
Stuttgart vs Young Boys Prediction
While Stuttgart appear to be the clear favourites for this match, they are encountering problems. The Germans have been struggling with poor finishing in this Champions League campaign. Even with Young Boys, a weaker side, coming to visit, it is unlikely that anything will change, and the hosts will score many goals. Therefore, we will play it safe and take a bet on the hosts' goal efficiency.
