After being unceremoniously dumped out of the German Cup during the week, the pressure is constantly building around Stuttgart manager Markus Babbel. Matters may get worse before they get better when his side host Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Stuttgart sit 14th in the Bundesliga at the moment, level on points with three teams below them, and they sit very much in reach of the drop zone. They have lost five straight games in all competitions, and were beaten 1-0 by second-division Greuther Fürth on Tuesday.
Bayern, meanwhile, are flying high after whitewashing Eintracht Frankfurt in the last week. The Bavarians beat Frnakfurt 2-1 in league play last weekend and 4-0 in the Cup on Wednesday. Bayern are back up to fifth place on 18 points, four adrift of the leaders.
Stuttgart have no major injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game, less Sami Khedira and Martin Lanig, who have been prolonged absences for the home side.
Bayern are once again set to be without French winger Franck Ribéry due to a knee concern. Ivica Olic is again out as he recovers from a muscle strain that will keep him out for the next month.
While Babbel continues to receive votes of confidence from the Stuttgart powers-that-be, it will be tough for them on Saturday. Look for Bayern to swipe a result as Stuttgart continue to slide toward the bottom.
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