[Trim]

VfB Stuttgart visit rock bottom Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. bundesliga.de paid a visit to confident Stuttgarters.

You struggle to find similarities between VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach this season. Despite a stuttering start to the season VfB have reached the DFB Cup Final and are currently in third place, with good chances to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Foals on the wrong track

"People were sceptical about us, and maybe I would have thought so, too", VfB sporting director Horst Heldt admits to bundesliga.de. "Naturally we're delighted about the success. We were aware that the team had the quality, so we're not surprised or rub our eyes in disbelief."

The "Foals", however, are on the wrong track after a promising start to the season. They are bottom of the standings and chances to avoid the drop are fading fast following just one point from five matches.

"Of course you want more"

VfB on the other hand have celebrated three victories in a week and travel to Mönchengladbach full of confidence. "We're still in the running for two titles. If you're up there, having beaten Bayern 2-0, of course you want more", Ludovic Magnin declared.

"Borussia will give everything to avoid relegation, but we clearly have the better team. If we can prove that on the pitch we're going to win", the defender added.

Hildebrand warns against complacency

But the newly-aroused enthusiasm in and around Stuttgart also involves the risk of losing touch with reality. "These matches are more difficult because we are favourites. They fight against the drop and will scratch and bite", goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand warns.

"Everyone thinks that Gladbach are already relegated. They've got nothing left to lose and they'll hit the pedal to the metal, it's going to be really difficult for us", Swiss international Marco Streller expects.

Prolific Brazilian

Cacau, too, stays modest despite a brace against Bayern. But the Brazilian said that the team were looking for a few goals to win in Gladbach, and Borussia keeper Christofer Heimeroth knows what Cacau is talking about.

He was beaten by the Brazilian for the decisive goal in Stuttgart's 1-0 win in the first leg. Together with regular strike partner Mario Gomez, who is currently recovering from injury, Cacau has netted 25 goals this season - the whole Gladbach squad have managed just 22.

Two young sporting directors

Not many similarities - but you still find one when you look at the sporting directors. Both clubs have shown faith in young directors to rebuild the team, and Heldt has already done well.

"Christian Ziege's position is similar to the one I started in, but his work is more difficult because they are struggling. I'm convinced that he will bring Gladback back on track. He has always been a player who shouldered responsibility, and he will stand his ground", Heldt says.

"We want wo win"

Heldt has called Ziege last week and asked for two tickets for Saturday's clash, but he's not intending to pay with three points at the weekend.

"We want to win, we can't have consideration for Gladbach. Our head coach will have mixed feelings as a former Borussia player, too, but we have to put that aside", Heldt demands.

Similarities are undesired on Saturday.