Raul Bobadilla scored the winner to help Augsburg climb to fifth in the Bundesliga table with a 2-1 win over Stuttgart this evening.

It took the home side just seven minutes to take the lead in front of their own supporters. Alexander Esswein played the ball into Tobias Werner, and the midfielder made no mistake with his low drive into the bottom corner.

The home side continued to have the better of the first 20 minutes, but Stuttgart equalised midway through the half through a close-range finish from Daniel Ginczek, after Filip Kostic had provided the assist.

Five minutes later, Esswein struck the ball wide from 12 yards before Georg Niedermeier's header was easily saved by Marvin Hitz up the other end.

Just before the break, Serey Die came close to giving Stuttgart the advantage but his 20-yard strike was well kept out by Hitz.

After half time, Daniel Didavi went close from long range for the visitors, but it was Augsburg who regained the lead when Bobadilla scored his eighth of the season by tucking the ball high into the net from a low cross.

Stuttgart pushed hard for an equaliser, but they failed to seriously test the opposition keeper. They had claims for two late penalties late on, but the referee waved them away and Augsburg held on to win.