VfB Stuttgart delivered a dominant performance, scoring five goals past FC Augsburg at the WWK Arena. Deniz Undav netted twice, leading his side to a decisive 5-2 Bundesliga victory.
VfB Stuttgart arrived in strong form, sitting comfortably in fourth place with 50 points and aiming to solidify their Champions League ambitions. FC Augsburg, meanwhile, occupied ninth spot with 31 points, looking to bounce back from recent losses and climb the mid-table. This clash was crucial for both teams' respective season objectives.
Stuttgart wasted no time asserting their authority. Just 12 minutes in, Deniz Undav opened the scoring, slotting home to give the visitors an early lead. His clinical strike set the tone for a high-scoring encounter.
The momentum continued for Stuttgart, fueled by strong midfield play. Tiago Tomás doubled their advantage in the 29th minute, latching onto a precise pass from Nikolas Nartey. Augsburg struggled to contain Stuttgart's attacking flow.
Before Augsburg could recover, Stuttgart struck again in rapid succession. Nikolas Nartey then turned scorer just two minutes later, in the 31st minute, with Maximilian Mittelstädt providing the assist. This quick-fire double left the home side stunned, trailing 3-0 at halftime.
At the break, FC Augsburg faced an uphill battle. Manager Jess Thorup made three changes, bringing on Ribeiro, Banks, and Kade to spark a much-needed comeback. They hoped to find a way back into the game.
The changes seemed to inject some life into Augsburg. Fabian Rieder pulled one back for the hosts in the 57th minute, offering a glimmer of hope. The WWK Arena briefly roared with renewed optimism.
However, Stuttgart quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback. Only a minute later, in the 58th minute, Undav restored Stuttgart's three-goal advantage with his second goal of the match. His quick response was a dagger to Augsburg's hopes.
Augsburg continued to fight despite the scoreline. A second goal for the home side arrived in the 71st minute, this time from A. Kade. This late goal offered little more than a consolation, but showed resilience.
As the match entered its final stages, Stuttgart sealed their emphatic victory. Ermedin Demirović came off the bench to add a fifth goal for the visitors in the 83rd minute, assisted by Undav. It was a fitting end to a dominant display.
The statistics reflected Stuttgart's superiority, with 61% possession and an impressive 3.77 xG compared to Augsburg's 1.2 xG. Stuttgart also had 8 shots on target from 13 total, while Augsburg managed 7 shots on target from 13 total. Deniz Undav was exceptional, contributing two goals and an assist.
This significant 5-2 win strengthens VfB Stuttgart's grip on a Champions League spot. For FC Augsburg, the heavy defeat marked another setback, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities they must address quickly. They will look to regroup in the coming weeks.
