Seeking to climb above Bayern Munich into second place in the Bundesliga table, Stuttgart travel to WWK Arena to face top-seven hopefuls Augsburg on Friday night.
Die Roten are looking to complete a league double over Die Fuggerstadter after winning 3-0 in the reverse fixture at MHPArena back in December.
Match preview
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After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Augsburg have since made considerable improvements this term and looked to be on course to secure at least a Europa League qualification spot earlier this year.
However, their top-six hopes have suffered a significant blow following a run of four defeats across their last five Bundesliga matches, including last weekend's heavy 5-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund.
Die Fuggerstadter were three goals down inside the opening 29 minutes before Ruben Vargas pulled one back. However, the glimmer of hope that they had for a miraculous comeback quickly evaporated, as Marco Reus added a fourth for BVB in the 34th minute, before Youssoufa Moukoko completed the rout midway through the second half.
Jess Thorup's men have subsequently slipped to ninth in the Bundesliga table and sit six points behind the top six with only two games remaining. A top-seven finish - which would guarantee a Europa Conference League playoff spot for next season - remains a realistic target for Augsburg, though, as they sit just two points behind seventh-placed Freiburg.
Having said that, ending the season on a high could prove challenging for Augsburg, as they have won just two of their last 11 Bundesliga meetings with Friday's opponents Stuttgart and will enter their final match of the campaign as underdogs against unbeaten champions Bayer Leverkusen.
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In stark contrast to Augsburg, Stuttgart are on cloud nine at present and their magnificent 2023-24 campaign reached new heights last weekend when they claimed a memorable 3-1 home victory over Bayern Munich.
Leonidas Stergiou's first-half opener was cancelled out by a Harry Kane penalty, and the contest looked to be heading for a draw until Stuttgart substitutes Jeong Woo-yeong and Silas scored in the final seven minutes to secure all three points for the hosts and their first home win over Bayern since 2007. The victory for Sebastian Hoeness's side took place just a few days after they guaranteed a top-four finish and Champions League football for the first time since 2009-10.
This time last year, Stuttgart were fighting for their lives at the foot of the table and survived as a result of their success in the relegation playoff. Die Roten are now bidding to secure a top-two finish in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2006-07 when they won the title, and victory on Friday would see them climb into second spot ahead of Bayern, who play host to Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Victory would also see Stuttgart equal two club records, one for the most wins (22) in a Bundesliga season, matching their title-winning campaigns in 1991-92 and 2006-07, and another for collecting the most points in a 34-game league season (70 in 2006-07).
Stuttgart head into Friday's contest having failed to win their previous two visits to Augsburg, losing 4-1 in October 2021 and drawing 1-1 in April 2023, but they did come out on top by a three-goal margin in the reverse fixture earlier this season and will be confident of success this time around.
Team News
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Augsburg's Raphael Framberger, Robert Gumny (both knee), Elvis Rexhbecaj, Finn Dahmen (both ankle), Fredrik Jensen (calf) and Reece Oxford (illness) all remain in the treatment room, while Iago is doubtful with a foot problem.
Kristijan Jakic served a one-match suspension last time out, but he is available for selection on Friday and is set to compete with Tim Breithaupt for a start in midfield alongside Arne Maier and Arne Engels.
Ermedin Demirovic has a team-high 15 Bundesliga goals to his name this season, but he has only scored one goal in his last seven appearances. Nevertheless, the Augsburg captain is expected to lead the line alongside Phillip Tietz.
As for Stuttgart, Nikolas Nartey (knee), Josha Vagnoman (metatarsal) and Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Roberto Massimo will have a muscle issue assessed ahead of kickoff.
Maximilian Mittelstadt and Enzo Millot both served suspensions last weekend, but they are available to return against Augsburg. The former is expected to replace Hiroki Ito at left-back, while the latter could start in midfield ahead of Angelo Stiller.
Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav, who both scored in the reverse fixture against Augsburg, have found the net 43 times between them so far this season and they are set to continue their partnership up front.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Koubek; Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen; Engels, Jakic, Maier; Vargas; Tietz, Demirovic
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Stergiou, Anton, Rouault, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Guirassy
We say: Augsburg 1-2 Stuttgart
Both teams still have something to play for heading into their final two Bundesliga fixtures, although there is more riding on this contest for Augsburg as they look to boost their hopes of a top-seven finish.
However, we expect high-flying Stuttgart to take advantage of the hosts' poor form and follow up their impressive win over Bayern Munich with another victory on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
