Augsburg vs. Stuttgart preview: Visitors chasing second spot
| Photo: Jeollo, VfB-exklusiv.de, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Stuttgart
Augsburg’s hopes of achieving European qualification have been dealt a significant blow by a poor run of form. The Fuggerstädter have won just one of their previous six matches, while also losing each of their last three games against Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen and Dortmund.
Jess Thorup would have been disappointed to see his side ship four first-half goals in last Saturday’s away clash with Dortmund. Having conceded 11 goals in their last three matches, Augsburg will have to improve defensively if they are to take anything from their final two games against Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen.
They may have to win both matches if they are to have any hope of closing the two-point gap to Freiburg in seventh place. However, they have failed to win any of their last four meetings with Stuttgart since running out 4-1 winners in October 2021.
Team News
The hosts are unable to call upon Finn Dahmen, Robert Gumny, Reece Oxford, Raphael Framberger, Fredrik Jensen and Elvis Rexhbecaj. Meanwhile, Iago has returned to training and should be involved in Friday's matchday squad.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart have already secured Champions League qualification, but they still have the chance to finish as runners-up after they beat second-placed Bayern Munich last weekend. Leonidas Stergiou, Jeong Woo-yeong and Silas all got on the scoresheet to condemn the Bavarians to a 3-1 defeat at the MHP Arena.
That win moved Stuttgart to within two points of Bayern ahead of the final two rounds of matches. Having lost just one of their last 14 league matches, die Schwaben will certainly fancy their chances of claiming a positive result this weekend.
However, they have been unable to win either of their last two away matches, losing 2-1 to Werder Bremen and drawing 2-2 against champions Bayer Leverkusen. They have also failed to win either of their last two away games against Augsburg (D1, L1) since recording a 4-1 win in January 2021.
Team News
The visitors are without Josha Vagnoman, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Samuele di Benedetto and Nikolas Nartey. Meanwhile, Roberto Massimo is a doubt due to a muscle problem.