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Crucial points on offer for in-form pair

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With both sides unbeaten in 2016 and sitting level on points, there is plenty at stake when Eintracht Frankfurt play host to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday of Matchday 20 (kick-off: 15.30CET/14.30GMT).

Watch: Stuttgart 2-1 Hamburg highlights

With two wins from two in 2016 - and unbeaten in the last five in the league - Stuttgart come into this one riding the crest of a wave under new coach Jürgen Kramny. Die Schwaben left it late to overcome Hamburger SV last time out, winter arrival Artem Kravets heading a late winner.

That win lifted Stuttgart to 21 points and level with Frankfurt. For their part, the Eagles had the better of a stalemate at FC Augsburg on Matchday 19, with new boy Marco Fabian catching the eye a week after he had teed up Alexander Meier for a dramatic late winner against VfL Wolfsburg.

History

Matchday 3 rewind: Stuttgart 1-4 Frankfurt

- © imago / Jan Huebner

Matchday 20 - match facts

    Two of four teams locked on 21 points, only goal difference separates Frankfurt in 13th from Stuttgart in 15th.If VfB win this one, they will climb above Frankfurt for the first time this season.Die Schwaben are not only unbeaten in the last five but have also won three on the bounce.It has been over 12 years since Frankfurt went the first three games of a Rückrunde unbeaten - although that season the Eagles were relegated.Armin Veh has opted for the same defence in both games so far in 2016, but there will be changes this weekend, with David Abraham and Makoto Hasebe both suspended.One man likely to start once again is Fabian, who caught the eye in his side's 0-0 draw at Augsburg last weekend.Read: Fabian's thoughts after his first Bundesliga start.Frankfurt striker Meier has scored nine of his ten league goals this term on home turf.

Possible line-ups

Frankfurt:Hradecky - Ignjovski, Zambrano, Russ, Oczipka - Stendera, Huszti - Aigner, Fabian, Gacinovic - Meier

Absentees: Anderson (light training), Flum (knee), Reinartz (groin), Castaignos (ankle), Abraham, Hasebe (both suspended)

Stuttgart: Tyton - Großkreutz, Schwaab, Niedermeier, Insua - Serey Die - Rupp, Gentner, Didavi, Kostic - Werner

Absentees: Ginczek (back)

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