VfB Stuttgart moved a little closer to the top group of the Bundesliga with an away win at FC Augsburg and celebrated their returnee Deniz Undav. The FCA must continue to look downwards.
Undav (65th minute), who had recently been substituted after an injury break, put VfB on track in a 1-0 (0-0) win at FC Augsburg on Sunday. “It’s incredible to be back on the pitch. A two-month injury break is not fun for any footballer“said Undav happily in the sports show interview.
With this success, Stuttgart has 26 points after 16 matchdays in the Bundesliga and has moved up to seventh place. The European Cup places remain in sight. But coach Sebastian Hoeneß didn’t necessarily want to know anything about that on the sports show microphone: “We got off to a good start. This is important. The feedback is important that we are in good shape.“After the fourth league game without a win in a row, Augsburg has 16 points and is only three points ahead of the relegation place. And yet coach Jess Thorup told Sportschau: “I am satisfied with the performance. Of course not with the result.“
René Kirsch, Sportschau, January 12, 2025 8:09 p.m
Stuttgart dominated against Augsburg without any great chances to score
Except for the last few minutes, the first half belonged to the guests from Stuttgart. VfB dictated the game with high pressing and fast play. However, the real options were missing. It took until the 21st minute before Ermedin Demirovic had his first big chance with a header – but it went wide of the goal to the left.
Augsburg only appeared in front of the Stuttgart goal in the last five minutes before the break and had a double chance to take the lead. But VfB goalkeeper Alexander Nübel parried both Jeffrey Gouweleeuw’s shot from close range and Robert Gumny’s second attempt.
Undav comeback at VfB changes everything
In the second half the level decreased little by little. There were a lot of receiving and passing errors on both sides, so that the fans saw a rather disjointed encounter without any real highlights.
It became crucial after just under an hour when VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß substituted national striker Undav. The 28-year-old had been out of the team since mid-November due to a muscle injury. And Undav was perfect in the game. Just three minutes after being substituted, he was lurking on the last line, got the ball neatly lobbed into the path by Angelo Stiller and, with a bit of luck, beat FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen in a one-on-one to make it 1-0.
Marcel Seufert, Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, January 12, 2025 7:27 p.m
The guests then switched to control. Augsburg’s resources were not enough to achieve anything worthwhile. The hosts came closest with a Gouweleeuw cross (87th), but substitute Ramon Hendriks cleared it in front of Phillip Tietz, who was ready to shoot.
Augsburg in Berlin, Stuttgart against Leipzig
Augsburg has an away game against 1. FC Union Berlin, which is also in crisis, during the English week (January 15, 2025, 8:30 p.m.). At the same time, VfB Stuttgart is also in demand against RB Leipzig on Wednesday and thus against one of the top teams.