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VfB Stuttgart are no strangers to Walter Smith’s Rangers team, having come up against them on their last foray into the Champions League in 2007 and in the group stages in 2003.
Two years ago, goals from Charlie Adam and Barry Ferguson weren’t enough in Germany, as they went down 3-2 to a last minute Ciprian Marica winner.
At Ibrox though, comeback goals from Adam and Jean-Claude Darcheville sealed a 2-1 win.
They negotiated their way through to the group stages through the non-champions path of the play-offs, with a 2-0 away win against Romanian side Timisoara enough to see them through after a goalless return leg at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Stuttgart – managed by Markus Babbel - are strong at the back, with former Arsenal ‘keeper Jens Lehmann in goals and ex-Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz amongst their more experienced players.
As for danger men, Rangers will need to keep a keen eye on Alex Hleb, on loan from Barcelona, captain Thomas Hitzlsperger and Brazilian born forward Cacau, who was recently capped for his adopted nation of Germany.
So far this season, Stuttgart have picked up four points from their first three matches. An opening day loss to champions Wolfsburg wasn’t the start they had in mind, but they have since recovered to defeat Freiburg 4-2 and draw 1-1 away to Borussia Dortmund.
Their home games are played at the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz Arena, which holds just under 56,000. It was a host stadium during the 2006 World Cup, hosting England’s 1-0 win over Ecuador and the third-place play-off fixture between Germany and Portugal.
Two years ago, goals from Charlie Adam and Barry Ferguson weren’t enough in Germany, as they went down 3-2 to a last minute Ciprian Marica winner.
At Ibrox though, comeback goals from Adam and Jean-Claude Darcheville sealed a 2-1 win.
They negotiated their way through to the group stages through the non-champions path of the play-offs, with a 2-0 away win against Romanian side Timisoara enough to see them through after a goalless return leg at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Stuttgart – managed by Markus Babbel - are strong at the back, with former Arsenal ‘keeper Jens Lehmann in goals and ex-Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz amongst their more experienced players.
As for danger men, Rangers will need to keep a keen eye on Alex Hleb, on loan from Barcelona, captain Thomas Hitzlsperger and Brazilian born forward Cacau, who was recently capped for his adopted nation of Germany.
So far this season, Stuttgart have picked up four points from their first three matches. An opening day loss to champions Wolfsburg wasn’t the start they had in mind, but they have since recovered to defeat Freiburg 4-2 and draw 1-1 away to Borussia Dortmund.
Their home games are played at the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz Arena, which holds just under 56,000. It was a host stadium during the 2006 World Cup, hosting England’s 1-0 win over Ecuador and the third-place play-off fixture between Germany and Portugal.
Source: www.sport.stv.tv
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