3rd FCA defeat in a row
©IMAGO
National striker Deniz Undav gave VfB Stuttgart a successful start to the new football year with his comeback, which was enthusiastically applauded by the traveling fans. Just four minutes after coming on as a substitute, Undav heralded the German runner-up’s race to catch up to the international ranks with his sixth goal of the season (65th minute) in a 1-0 (0-0) win against FC Augsburg.
Thanks to their lack of a top scorer for two months, coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team improved to seventh place in the table with 26 points. The Swabians are already unbeaten against FCA for six games in a row. Augsburg, on the other hand, with 16 points, has to be careful not to slip further down. Times are likely to become more turbulent for coach Jess Thorup.
There he was again in front of 30,660 fans: Ermedin Demirovic had scored goals for FC Augsburg for two years before moving to Stuttgart in the summer. The former captain of the Fuggerstadt team made it clear early on how difficult his loss was for the home team. With two headers in the 5th and 20th minute, Demirovic was close to giving the guests the lead – but another attacker would later steal the show.
Thorup wanted to see “intensity” and “offensive mindset” from his team. But the powerful Stuttgart team didn’t allow these qualities of their rival to come to the fore.
In goal, Thorup decided to make a change. Finn Dahmen was allowed to start for the previous number one Nediljko Labrovic 414 days after his last Bundesliga appearance. He had to watch as his teammates became a little more courageous on offense at the end of the first half. The shot from Robert Gumny (41st), who was allowed to start on the right side for the ill Marius Wolf, was too weak after a rebound.
Maximilian Bauer was no longer on the pitch. The defender took a ball to the head early on and ultimately had to be replaced by Noahkai Banks (29th) with dizziness.
The intensity that Thorup demanded before kick-off was there at the start of the second half. The Augsburg team attacked the Stuttgart team more aggressively. VfB’s game was disjointed and slow in this phase.
There was cheering in the Stuttgart block when national striker Undav (61′) came on for Demirovic. Shortly afterwards, the celebration became even greater when the national player took the lead for VfB after a lob from Angelo Stiller. To the relief of the Stuttgart delegation, the video referee did not recognize a supposed offside position.
