Swabian Derby in Augsburg
A “Man of the Match” doesn’t always have to be a player. If we look at the match between FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart, then this title belongs to FCA coach Markus Weinzierl in the run-up. With a win on Saturday, he could celebrate his 50th Bundesliga victory as a coach, and against his ex-employer of all people.
Weinzierl was employed by VfB for around a year and was sacked in April 2019 after his team lost 6-0, in Augsburg of all places. He then made his debut in his second spell with the Fuggerstädtern in May 2021 against Stuttgart, losing 2-1, although Markus Weinzierl has not won against any other club in the Bundesliga more often than he has against VfB.
However, the Swabians are not particularly successful on the road either with 13th place and ten points. Therefore, we can also imagine placing a bet on a home win in the duel between Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart. An important question will be who has digested the cup defeat better during the week.
Augsburg – Statistics & current form
It is the early goals that are making life particularly difficult for FC Augsburg at the moment. In the Bundesliga, the Fuggerstädter have already conceded six goals in the opening quarter hour. That is the worst value in the league and also on Wednesday in the cup in Bochum, FCA was again behind early. It’s going to be hard to show morale week in, week out.
Waiting for a win
This is then also reflected in the results. Including the defeat in the cup, FC Augsburg have now waited five games for a win. However, in some cases things went quite well, such as in Dortmund. Therefore, we would be very cautious about playing the odds on a win for the visitors between Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart.
Markus Weinzierl’s team proved on Wednesday in Bochum that they are alive. They conceded a quick goal in both halves, but the Puppeteers equalised after goals from Reece Oxford and Ruben Vargas. The penalty shoot-out had to decide and there Arne Maier’s nerves failed him, while all the Bochum players scored.
Augsburg will have to try to take the positive moments from this game. On top of that, the number of players in the hospital has been reduced again. Niklas Dorsch and Fredrik Jensen will possibly move into the squad. Mads Pedersen might even make the starting eleven. That leaves only Florian Niederlechner and Felix Uduokhai missing.
Predicted line-up of Augsburg:
Gikiewicz – Gumny, Oxford, Gouweleeuw, Pedersen – Caligiuri, Gruezo – Hahn, Maier, Vargas – Zeqiri – Coach: Weinzierl
Last matches played by Augsburg:
DFB Pokal
10/27 2021 – Vfl Bochum (5)2 – 2(4) Augsburg
1st Bundesliga
10/22 2021 – Mainz 05 4 – 1 Augsburg
10/17 2021 – Augsburg 1 – 1 Arminia Bielefeld
10/02 2021 – Borussia Dortmund 2 – 1 Augsburg
09/26 2021 – SC Freiburg – 3 – 0 Augsburg
VfB Stuttgart – Statistics & current form
There are statistics that can be interpreted in several ways. VfB have had nine different goalscorers in the Bundesliga this season, only TSG Hoffenheim have more. On the one hand, the Swabians are difficult to calculate, on the other hand, no one has stood out as a goal scorer and possibly Pellegrino Matarazzo is still looking for his regulars.
Remis kings away from home
The Swabians have not yet won away from home this season. But they are the draw kings on foreign grounds. Three of VfB’s four away games, the last three in a row, ended in a draw. That almost sounds as if we can’t avoid predicting a draw in the Swabian derby between Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart.
What speaks against it, however, is VfB’s despondent performance against 1. FC Köln in the DFB Cup last Wednesday. Stuttgart looked strangely lethargic and could hardly make their mark in the offensive. Substitute striker Mateo Klimowicz hardly played at all. Thus, the Swabians were eliminated from the cup after a 2-0 defeat, unexpectedly but deservedly.
Personally, things still don’t look particularly good, even if the times of positive tests and quarantine are at least over. That’s why Florian Müller now also returns to the cabinet. With Momo Cisse, Lilian Egloff, Enzo Millot, Mohamed Sankoh, Silas and Sasa Kalajdzic, several players are missing due to injury. Atakan Karazor is also serving a suspension. Nikolas Nartey and Omar Marmoush are questionable for the match.
Predicted line-up of VfB Stuttgart:
Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Kempf – Endo, Sosa, Nartey, Mangala – Coulibaly, Führich – Klimowicz – Coach: Matarazzo
Last matches played by VfB Stuttgart:
DFB Cup
10/27 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 0 – 2 1. FC Köln
1st Bundesliga
10/24 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 1 Union Berlin
10/16 2021 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 1 VfB Stuttgart
Friendly club matches
10/07 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 1 – 4 Sandhausen
1st Bundesliga
10/02 2021 – VfB Stuttgart 3 – 1 Hoffenheim
Augsburg – VfB Stuttgart Direct comparison / H2H-balance
A round anniversary is coming up. For the 50th time FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart meet in a competitive match. In the direct comparison, the Stuttgart side have the edge, leading 25:16 after victories. Only eight duels ended in a draw. There are currently no notable series in the Swabian derbies.
Last season, however, VfB had the upper hand twice. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team first won 4:1 in Augsburg, followed by Markus Weinzierl’s comeback in the return match at the beginning of May. After goals from Philipp Förster and Sasa Kalajdzic, Stuttgart won 2-1, with Florian Niederlechner scoring for the Fuggerstädter.
Augsburg – VfB Stuttgart Tip
There is not much to suggest that FC Augsburg will win this Swabian derby on Sunday. After all, the Puppenspieler are winless for five games. However, there is still one or the other loophole, because Markus Weinzierl has not celebrated so many victories against any other Bundesliga team.
In addition, Stuttgart are not in a particularly good mood and have not yet won away from home this season. On the other hand, they have drawn three matches in a row away from home recently.
However, we rate FCA’s great morale in the cup match in Bochum and VfB’s relatively anaemic performance at home against Cologne somewhat higher. This means that we see the small momentum on the side of the Fuggerstädter. Therefore, we have decided to play the odds on a home win between Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart, but hedge with DNB.
