For one half, VfB Stuttgart dominated a weak FC Augsburg almost at will. In the second half, FCA clearly showed improvement, but the recovery came far too late to gain a point.
Augsburg had not lost eight home games in the Bundesliga recently, but in the 2:5 (0:3) against VfB Stuttgart, Manuel Baum’s team missed the entire first half and, after two recent away defeats against Dortmund and Leipzig, left the field as losers for the third time in a row.
Deniz Undav scored the first goal of the evening in the 12th minute, Tiago Tomas (29th) and Nikolas Nartey (31st) added before the break for VfB, who had apparently coped well with the Europa League exit against Porto. Fabian Rieder (57′) and Anton Kade (71′) scored Augsburg’s two goals in the second half, although they were interrupted by Undav’s second goal (58′), while Ermedin Demirović scored the final point (83′). Thanks to the success, VfB consolidated third place and remained on course for the Champions League, while Augsburg remained in secure midfield in tenth place.
Stuttgart does magic, Augsburg watches
Of course, the first chance of the game went straight to the guests’ account; Finn Dahmen was able to direct a cheeky lob from Deniz Undav from a tight angle with his fingertips over his goal (3rd minute). And Dahmen was allowed to continue straight away: Again the angle was acute for the Stuttgart team, but again the FCA keeper had to make a save in desperate need – this time against Nartey.
But it was already apparent that it would be a very busy Sunday evening for the 27-year-old in the Augsburg goal – and in his next test he was no longer able to prevent the score being 0-1. The very conspicuous Führich followed up well on the left and fed Angelo Stiller, whose cross Dahmen cleared, somewhat unorthodoxly, right in front of Undavs’ feet. Of course, he didn’t miss that in his current form and scored his 17th goal of the season.
After that it became a little quieter for a moment, Stuttgart slowed down the momentum of the first few minutes and took a look at what the hosts had to offer offensively. The answer: Not much. In the 25th minute, Elvis Rexhbecaj tested Stuttgart’s keeper Nübel with a long-range shot, which he was able to hold on to without any problems. And when the Swabians had watched it all long enough, they went on to make it 2-0 with great enthusiasm. The ball landed over Chema Andres’ head in the penalty area to Nartey, who passed it across with his heel and Tiago Tomas hit the ball into the net – all completely unchallenged by any Augsburg defenders (29′).
Augsburg’s Noahkai Banks (h.) in a duel with Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav (v.)
3-0 at the break – and well deserved
The hosts didn’t really feel like defending immediately afterwards. Maximilian Mittelstädt crossed flatly from the left, Nartey ran away from all opponents and pushed the ball over the line to make it 3-0 (31st). The half-time break was 3-0 and there was nothing to indicate that the Fuggerstadt team would come back into this game against VfB, who were so keen to play. For a moment it even looked as if the Swabians could score a fourth goal in the first half, but referee Felix Zwayer correctly withdrew a penalty whistle according to the video images. Han-Noah Massengo had touched Lorenz Assignon in the penalty area, but there was no foul.
Augsburg shows morale – but too late to win a point
Consequently, Baum made three substitutions at the break. Rexhbecaj, Noahkai Banks and Rodrigo Ribeiro had to stay in the locker room. And the second round got off to a better start than the first, Massengo tested Nübel with a courageous long-range shot – Augsburg’s best finish of the game to date (47′). Overall, the FCA started the Swabians much earlier and were more aggressive in the duels. In the 55th minute, Cedric Zesiger had a header assist from substitute Michael Gregoritsch to make it 3-1, but he shot clearly over from close range (56th). Nübel then loudly reminded his teammates of their defensive duties. But that didn’t prevent ex-Stuttgart Rieder from striking in the 57th minute and being able to overcome Nübel: Finn Jeltsch blocked two shots from Alexis Claude-Maurice with full effort, but was then powerless to deal with Rieder’s third (57th).
Should the turning point come again this Sunday evening? The belief in this initially only lasted a hand-stopped 60 seconds. In direct response, the extremely strong Führich moved inwards from the left, Dahmen initially parried, but Undav was there and restored the old distance with a bone-dry finish (58th).
But because VfB had noticeably shifted down a gear and Augsburg maintained the attitude with which they had come out of the break, the three-pointer for Stuttgart was not yet completely dry. In the 71st minute, Kristijan Jakić was initially denied by Nübel after a half-field cross, but FCA followed up again and made it 2-4 through Kade. Demirović, who had just come on as a substitute, finally put all doubts to rest against his former club in the 83rd minute after a cross pass from Undav and made it 5-2.
Augsburg at HSV, Stuttgart against Dortmund
After the international break, Augsburg will be visiting Hamburger SV on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m.). Stuttgart welcomes Borussia Dortmund for the top game on Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.).
