Final stretch for Europa League

Former Bremen player Martin Harnik is Stuttgart’s top scorer with 15 goals.
VfB Stuttgart
Friday, 13.04.2012 / 06:29

Stuttgart once again are playing a strong second half of the season and have worked themselves into fifth place heading into their game Friday night at home against Werder Bremen. That makes Stuttgart...

Stuttgart once again are playing a strong second half of the season and have worked themselves into fifth place heading into their game Friday night at home against Werder Bremen. That makes Stuttgart a direct contender with Werder in the fight for the UEFA Europa League spots. "The game against Bremen is a match for Europe. With a victory we can create some space over the competition," said Stuttgart sports director Fredi Bobic.

Wise acquisitions: Vedad Ibesivic (l.) and Gotoku Sakai have helped Stuttgart.

"These are the games where you really have to dig down deep to have success because things might not go as well as you expect. This is extremely important for the development of the team," said Stuttgart head coach Bruno Labbadia. Stuttgart have come back from deficits in their last three games, and Labbadia praised his team for their efforts. "The guys have realised what we are all about. It only works when everyone plays and works for each other," said the coach.

Two winter transfers - Vedad Ibisevic and Gotoku Sakai - have played a big role in Stuttgart's positive trend. The central striker Ibisevic, who arrived from Hoffenheim, is dominating the box and causing all kinds of problems for opposing back lines with an impressive eight goals and five assists in 11 matches. Former Bremen player Martin Harnik has been a major beneficiary of the new arrivals, who have opened more room and provided more players to pass to him. The Austrian international has scored nine of his 15 goals in the second half of the season. "Altogether, the team is on a positive way. They have come up with strong performances, are playing very compactly, very together and very successful. Their game has come together," said Bremen head coach Thomas Schaaf.

But Stuttgart must do without the services of Zdravko Kuzmanovic as the Serbian international midfielder is suspended due to yellow cards and will be replaced by Christian Gentner. Also not available will be Khalid Boulahrouz and Johan Audel while leftback Arthur Boka is a question mark due to a pelvic problem. "We are in a good situation, which we could not have expected three months ago. The match is a big chance for us," said Labbadia about the importance of the game. And the coach hopes his team can retain its "relaxedness". But how Schaaf's team performs will play a role as the Green-Whites will clearly give their all in the fight for the Europa League. "We want to improve our position ourselves, even though that will not be an easy task," said Schaaf.

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