SC Paderborn 07 vs VfB Stuttgart preview - Stevens focused on securing safety

Posted Friday, May 22, 2015 by PA

Stuttgart head to Paderborn this weekend for a game their coach Huub Stevens says he should not need to motivate his team for.

Paderborn are propping up the table with 31 points, two fewer than Stuttgart, who would be involved in a play-off for relegation were the season to end now.

"If we win, then we know that we are definitely safe so that is all that we are focusing on," said Stuttgart's Dutch coach.

A draw would leave them looking for Hamburg's result against Schalke before knowing if they would stay up while defeat would condemn them to the drop no matter what.

That result would not necessarily save Paderborn, though, since they - like Hamburg - need to rely on results elsewhere going their way to stand a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the second division.

They plan on doing their bit to make what would seem a miraculous survival possible.

"When nobody believes in us anymore, that is when my lads stand up and be counted," said their coach Andre Breitenreiter, whose side have been written off since the moment they were promoted to the top flight a year ago.

"We are ready. Apart from against Bayern Munich, we have had a chance to beat everybody we have played at home this season."

They will have to do without the suspended Daniel Bruckner this Saturday with Florian Hartherz taking his place, but Breitenreiter otherwise has the rest of his squad to choose from.

Carlos Gruezo does not make the trip with Stuttgart while Daniel Didavi, who has been inspirational in recent weeks for the Swabians, Timo Baumgartl and Antonio Rudiger are all doubts.