FC Augsburg
| 1-0 | Mölders | (61. Min) |
| 2-0 | De Jong | (83. Min) |
| 3-0 | Ji | (85. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
Antonio Rüdiger
Stats 
Defeat in Augsburg
VfB’s four game unbeaten run was ended by a 0-3 defeat away to FC Augsburg. Bruno Labbadia maintained fate in the same eleven that began in both Freiburg games in a game that proved intensive right from the outset.
The 30,660 strong crowd – including 3,000 fans from Stuttgart – were treated to some top entertainment right from the kick-off. The play switch quickly from end to end but remained somewhat unstructured and chaotic. The first chance of the game fell to the home side, with Tobias Werner getting a shot away, but Gotoku Sakai was alert to the danger and slid in to make a vital block (13’).
Even affair
Three minutes later, Christian Gentner foiled two opponents on the left before dragging a pass back for Ibrahima Traoré, who immediately crossed to the centre, where Martin Harnik nodded over the bar. FCA upped the pressure and had more of the play during a phase of the game that saw much of the tempo drop out of the game. Both keepers were then to have the opportunity to prove their worth, with Sven Ulreich making impressive stops from André Hahn (24’) and then Sascha Mölders (29’), whilst at the other end, Alexander Manninger denied Ibrahima Traoré (29’).
Bruno Labbadia: "FC Augsburg deserved the win because they just wanted the win more than we did." Post match comments
Intensive first half
VfB then had the next opportunity to open the scoring, as Alexandru Maxim sent a cross in for Vedad Ibisevic, who unfortunately made the connection with his shoulder instead of his head and turned the ball the wrong side of the post. At the end of an intensive first half of football, the sides went into the break dead-locked in stalemate.
The second half began with a major chance for the visitors. Alexandru Maxim jinked past his marker on the wing and drove the ball across the FCA penalty area. Martin Harnik rose to head goal-wards but could only find the thigh of Manninger in the Augsburg goal (48’).
There was a similar situation at the other end of the park just past the hour mark following a corner. Sascha Mölders stole in with a strong header from close range, which Sven Ulreich was unable to block and the ball deflected off the keeper into the net – 1-0 for the hosts!
Augsburg turn the screws
In the 71st minute, Shinji Okazaki was introduced in place of Ibrahima Traoré but there was then another scare for VfB, as Won-Dong Ji headed onto the roof of the net and just two minutes further on Sven Ulreich was forced to clear from Tobias Werner (73’). VfB then began to increase the intensity, with first Shinji Okazaki narrowly missing out (76’) and then a headed effort by Georg Niedermeier being cleared off the line.
Just as VfB were beginning to look like they might soon equalise, the home side broke away and substitute Marcel de Jong netted to make it 2-0 (83’). VfB threw all they had to offer into attack but were caught wanting once again as Won-Dong Ji increased the FCA lead to 3-0 (85’). It was to prove the final incident in an intensive game which ended deservedly, if possibly too clearly, in Augsburg’s favour.
