Bundesliga: Can Augsburg End Their Slide Against VfB Stuttgart?

Augsburg vs VfB Stuttgart

With the fifth Champions League spot given to the Bundesliga, Augsburg are attempting a late push for European football next season.

However, Augsburg are trapped in ninth place after losing three straight games and only winning one of their previous five games. They are eager to break their losing streak when they host VfB Stuttgart at the WWK Arena on Friday.

If Jess Thorup’s men somehow beat VfB Stuttgart, then they can go as high as seventh place, depending on this weekend’s Bundesliga 2024 results.

The pre-game SBOTOP betting odds are in favour of VfB Stuttgart, however. And since they’ve secured their top four spot following last week’s win against Bayern Munich, there’s not much pressure for them to win this contest.

 

Talking Points

Demirovic having his best season with Augsburg

Ermedin Demirovic hasn’t scored for Augsburg during their winless run, but that doesn’t take away the fact that he has been the team’s most influential player this season. The 26-year-old forward leads Augsburg in scoring with 15 goals and nine assists.

Because of his fine performances, Demirovic has attracted suitors ahead of the summer transfer window, so Augsburg are facing a huge dilemma about whether they’ll cash in on him or not.

According to reports, Demirovic is likely to leave the club soon, and Bayern Munich are said to be one of the teams interested in him since he can reinforce their attack. Eintracht Frankfurt were also interested in Demirovic last summer, but the club didn’t pursue a move.

Other than Demirovic, Augsburg have two more weapons that could hurt VfB Stuttgart’s backline: Phillip Tietz and Ruben Vargas.

Tietz is Demirovic’s strike partner up front, and he is the team’s second-leading scorer with eight goals and four assists this season, while Vargas has four goals and four assists, including two goals in his last three appearances.

 

VfB Stuttgart are not just Guirassy and Undav

VfB Stuttgart didn’t have their usual suspects scoring the goals in their 3-1 shellacking of Bayern Munich last time out. Instead of top scorers Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav, it was the trio of Leonidas Stergiou, Jeong Woo-Yeong, and Silas who made the net bulge.

Deniz Undav executed a brilliant one-two with Stergiou to give VfB Stuttgart the lead in the 30^th minute, but Harry Kane drew level for Bayern Munich with his penalty conversion seven minutes later following a foul on Serge Gnabry.

But during the 83^rd minute, substitute Jeong Woo-Yeong was assisted by Guirassy to put VfB Stuttgart up by 2-1, and then Silas put on the finishing touches with the third during stoppage time.

That was the first goal of the season for both Jeong Woo-Yeong and Leonidas Stergiou, while Silas now has four goals this year.

Another player that Augsburg would have to look out for is Jamie Leweling. The Union Berlin loanee has four goals and four assists this season.

 

History

VfB Stuttgart routed Augsburg in December with a 3-0 scoreline, as Deniz Undav, Serhou Guirassy, and Chris Fuhrich all found the back of the net. Overall, Augsburg are winless in four consecutive Bundesliga games against VfB Stuttgart (D1, L3).

Augsburg’s last victory against VfB Stuttgart was a 4-1 result at home on October 2021, when they were still coached by Markus Weinzierl.

The hosts have lost three consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time under Jess Thorup, and the last time they lost this many in a row was last year under Enrico Maaßen.

With 67 points after 32 matchdays, VfB Stuttgart are enjoying their best Bundesliga season. Their 34-point jump from the end of last season is a joint Bundesliga record with Bayer Leverkusen, who have won the Bundesliga this year.

 

Betting Tip

The Bundesliga 2024 odds predict that VfB Stuttgart will extend their undefeated run to three games this weekend. The visitors are priced at 1.84 to win, whereas Augsburg are 3.46 underdogs, and a draw is at 3.72 odds in the 1X2 market.

There’s a good chance that we will have another goal fest in this fixture, as Over 3.50 at 2.16, Over 3.25 at 1.90, Total Goal 2-3 at 2.20, and Total Goal 4-6 at 2.38 are all on offer, while a Correct Score of 3-0 in favour of the visitors – the result of their reverse fixture –  has a generous deal of 18.50 for your bet.

However, if you don’t feel the same way, then take a look at Total Goal 0-1 at 5.50 or Under 3.00 at 2.25, while a goalless draw between these two sides is being offered at 22.00.

   

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