With a place in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal up for grabs on Tuesday, Stuttgart are set to host Augsburg at MHPArena.
The home team comfortably eased past 2. Bundesliga side Jahn Regensburg 3-0 in the previous round on December 3, whereas Augsburg only advanced past Karlsruher SC on December 4 thanks to their penalty-shootout win.
Match preview
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Stuttgart rested numerous started against Jahn Regensburg but still dominated proceedings, producing over two xG while restricting their opponents to just one big chance.
The hosts are currently in fifth place in the Bundesliga with 32 points after 20 matchweeks and lost 2-1 against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, a match in which the victors created four big chances compared to Die Roten's one.
Boss Sebastian Hoeness will hope that his side are not eliminated from the DFB-Pokal at the quarter-final stage for a second consecutive campaign, though they were only knocked out of 2023-24's edition by the tournament's eventual winners Bayer Leverkusen on February 6, 2024.
Die Roten beat Augsburg 1-0 in the Bundesliga on January 12 and have in fact won the sides' last three clashes, going unbeaten in six games against Tuesday's visitors.
It will be of concern to Hoeness that his team have been defeated in each of their past three outings – losing by a cumulative score of 8-2 – though they did triumph in eight of their nine prior fixtures.
While Stuttgart have won their three most recent home games in the DFB-Pokal, they have lost three of their last five matches at MHPArena in all competitions, winning the other two.
%20celebrates%20scoring%20for%20Augsburg%20on%20January%2015,%202025.jpeg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Alexis Claude-Maurice (No. 20) celebrates scoring for Augsburg on January 15, 2025")
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Opponents Augsburg were on the verge of elimination against Karlsruher SC given they trailed 2-1 when Marvin Wanitzek scored in the 111th minute, but a 123rd-minute equaliser from Ruben Vargas took the tie to penalties.
The Fuggerstadter were held to a 1-1 draw by St Pauli in the Bundesliga on February 1 and are in 12th place with 26 points.
Manager Jess Thorup will be pleased by his team's performances of late given they have only conceded two goals in their last four games, keeping two clean sheets while scoring seven times.
Thorup's side are in strong form considering they are unbeaten in four fixtures – winning three in that period – though they were defeated in each of their prior three.
The visitors have also only been beaten once in their last six games on the road, emerging triumphant in three and drawing two.
Team News
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Stuttgart centre-backs Dan-Axel Zagadou and Ameen Al Dakhil have been ruled out, and their absences may mean that Maxim Leitsch and Anthony Rouault could partner each other in central defence.
Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are candidates to start up front given strikers El Bilal Toure and Justin Diehl will not be in the matchday squad.
Angelo Stiller has been a regular in midfield for his side, and he may play alongside Atakan Karazor in a double pivot.
As for the visitors, they are dealing with injuries to defenders Cedric Zesiger and Henri Koudossou, so expect Noahkai Banks, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Chrislain Matsima to feature in a back three.
Attacker Mergim Berisha is not scheduled to return until late February, while winger Yusuf Kabadayi could miss out on action until April, and their absences could lead Thorup to select Samuel Essende, Arne Maier and Alexis Claude-Maurice in the forward line.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Leitsch, Mittelstadt; Larsen, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Banks; Wolf, Rexhbecaj, Onyeka, Giannoulis; Maier, Claude-Maurice, Essende
We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Augsburg
Stuttgart will be looking to emphatically respond after their poor performances in recent weeks, but they have encountered difficulties at home in the past weeks.
Augsburg are in strong overall form and have proven hard to overcome on the road, so they should be confident of advancing to the next round of the DFB-Pokal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
