VfB Stuttgart has crowned a remarkable half-year with another success and consolidated its place in the Champions League. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team deservedly won the Swabian derby against FC Augsburg 3-0 (2-0) at the end of the year and wintered in third place in the table as the first pursuers of the top duo Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
“It was an amazing first half of the season,” said sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth after the game on “Sky”: “The team has become more mature, plays more efficiently and more consistently. The fact that Sebastian has managed to get the team into this position is special Merit. It’s going to be a nice Christmas.”
The two top strikers Deniz Undav (18th) and Serhou Guirassy (45th + 1) as well as Chris Führich (69th) secured Stuttgart’s eleventh win in the first half of the season – a club record. After the 3-0 defeat at Bayern last Sunday, VfB showed a strong reaction against harmless Augsburg and remains the surprise team of the season with a seven-point lead in fifth place.
After VfB only secured the league in relegation last season, they are now suddenly at the top of the league. Even though, according to Hoeneß, his team was “a bit out of touch” against Bayern, they wanted to “bring a great end to a great year” against Augsburg, who had recently been in strong form.
VfB takes control
His team took this to heart. After Augsburg initially got into the game well, VfB soon took control of the game and also created good chances. Serhou Guirassy (8th) failed with his first chance at Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, while Undav (13th) hit the post.
A little later, the national team candidate did better. Angelo Stiller brought a corner kick flat to the first post, but Dahmen had no chance when Undav took the shot directly. Stuttgart remained dominant as a result, also because Augsburg, unlike last time, was hardly able to offer any resistance.
Guirassy remains ice cold in front of the goal
The 2-0 was the logical and deserved consequence. An inaccurate shot flew past Dahmen’s ears as Undav headed straight into Guirassy’s path. Unlike a few seconds before, the Guinean remained ice cold this time – and scored his 17th goal of the season just in time for the half-time whistle.
Augsburg came out of the locker room somewhat improved, but Stuttgart was unimpressed – and appeared ice-cold in front of the goal. After a dream pass from Stiller, Führich took the first chance of the second half to make the decision.