Nuremberg – Stuttgart

The visitors are expected to win and advance to semi-finals

The only representative of the Second Bundesliga at the quarter-final stage of the German Cup will play their game at home. Nuremberg did not encounter a single club from the top flight on the way to such a high stage, which is seen as the key to the team's success. Moreover, from round to round, the hosts of the upcoming meeting met with opponents on exactly the same level. In the 1/32 finals Nuremberg were drawn against a representative of the Western Regional League, in the 1/16 finals - the team of the Third League, and in the 1/8 finals the club snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out against an opponent from their division - Fortuna Dusseldorf. Stuttgart's path in the German Cup began in Dresden, where they beat local Dinamo. Then, the team demolished Arminia 6-0 at home, and at the last stage of the tournament they made a great comeback in Paderborn. On 85 minutes into the match, Stuttgart were trailing 0-1, but 12 minutes later left the field as 2-1 winners. The bookmakers identified the visitors as the favourites to win the upcoming meeting, with the win to be chosen at odds of 1.70. Nuremberg approach the quarterfinal match as the 13th team in the second division. Systematic failures of the ambitious club led to the appointment of the experienced coach Dieter Hecking on 20 February this year. Notwithstanding this, we cannot expect a miraculous transformation of Nurnberg, even despite some movement in the team's form. In five official meetings under Hecking, the club scored seven points but lost to Bundesliga Two leaders Hamburg and Darmstadt 98. Nuremberg are still only prepared to compete with teams on the level of Regensburg and Sandshausen. Stuttgart have fallen to the bottom of the standings after the last few Bundesliga rounds. Last Saturday, the team lost 0-3 to Union Berlin. That defeat was Stuttgart's fourth in their last five meetings. That said, the class of the visitors' players is definitely higher than that of their upcoming opponents. The last two meetings with Nuremberg ended in favour of the Swabians with a total score of 9-0. Despite the current weak play of both opponents, Stuttgart look preferable. The team needs positive momentum, which they will get on Wednesday in the form of a win against Nuremberg.