Bundesliga, Matchday 27 | PREVIEW
Stuttgart – Hamburg
There is a crunch game at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion with three important points up for grabs as Stuttgart look to push into the top five, while Hamburg look to consolidate their position in second and maybe put some pressure on leaders Bayern.
The home side will have to face HSV without their prolific goal scorer Mario Gomez, who is out of action for two weeks with a thigh injury. That will be a severe blow to the Swabians as Gomez has been one of the mahor reasons for their recent surge up the table with eight goals in the last seven games.
Hamburg remain second in the table but have Schalke, Leverkusen and Werder hot on their heels. The Hanseaten were held to draws in their last two games and there has been much discussion over the perceived drop in form of captain Rafael van der Vaart.
Huub Stevens also has a personnel crisis to overcome with David Jarolim and Joris Mathijsen both suspended and forwards Ivica Olic and Paulo Guerrero out injured.
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