Stuttgart vs Augsburg preview: An old-fashion relegation six-pointer
Another Bundesliga matchday gives us another pivotal game in the battle to avoid relegation.
With just three points separating Stuttgart and Augsburg in the Bundesliga table, Saturday's contest promises to be a close-fought affair.
With just three points separating Stuttgart and Augsburg in the Bundesliga table, Saturday's contest promises to be a close-fought affair.
Stuttgart
A revitalised Stuttgart will look to continue their mini-revival against Augsburg on Saturday.
Pellegrino Matarazzo has witnessed his side claim four points from their last two games, despite trailing in both of those contests. After scoring a late winner against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Saša Kalajdžić decided to replicate his party trick last weekend, netting a 90th-minute equaliser to snatch a point in their clash with Union Berlin.
As a result of that point, Stuttgart moved up into the relegation playoff spot, with just two points separating them from safety.
Despite a couple of positive results, Matarazzo will still be seeking an improvement from his defence. Stuttgart are the only side yet to keep a home clean sheet in the Bundesliga this term, while Hertha BSC are the only team to have conceded more home goals than Matarazzo's men this season.
The hosts have fared well in their recent home encounters against Augsburg. In fact, Stuttgart have won the last two meetings between the two sides at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, and they will be seeking to avenge the 4-1 defeat they suffered away to Augsburg in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Team News
Injury issues will rule out a number of Stuttgart players, including Lilian Egloff, Silas, Jordan Meyer and Nikolas Nartey.
Kalajdžić, meanwhile, will be crucial to Stuttgart's efforts on Saturday with the Austria international aiming to score for a third consecutive game.
Augsburg
Augsburg will return to action following a two-week break after their contest against Mainz last week was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Mainz squad.
Despite sitting just three points clear of Saturday's opponents, Augsburg would have been encouraged by their last two performances. After holding Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw, Markus Weinzierl's side claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against relegation rivals Arminia Bielefeld.
The victory over Bielefeld was crucial for Augsburg's survival hopes as it represented just their second away league win of the season, while it also ended a run of three consecutive defeats on their travels. Impressively, no team has kept more away Bundesliga clean sheets then Weinzierl's side this season, who have five away shutouts to their name - only Freiburg have the same number.
Team News
Alfred Finnbogason will miss out for the hosts due to a groin injury, while Noah Sareren Bazee is also sidelined after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Positively, Robert Gumny will return from injury, while Niklas Dorsch also comes back into the squad after serving a one-match suspension.