FC Augsburg
| 1-0 | Werner | (7. Min) |
| 2-1 | Bobadilla | (73. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 1-1 | Ginczek | (22. Min) |
Adam Hlousek
Stats 
Daniel Ginczek scored the equalizer.
Narrow defeat
VfB got off to a poor start in Augsburg, but having gone behind, Huub Stevens’ men took the initiative and deservedly levelled. VfB continued to press in search of the lead, but were unable to finds the net on a second occasion. At the other end, the hosts took one of the few opportunities that came their way to make it 2-1, snatch the points and leave the Cannstatt Boys dejected and empty-handed.
Huub Stevens replaced the suspended Martin Harnik with Daniel Schwaab, who took up the position on the right side of the back four, with Florian Klein moving forward into midfield.
VfB made a cautious beginning, leaving much of the play to the hosts, who duly made effective use of their first chance on goal to take the lead. A long ball forward from FCA keeper Marvin Hitz forced his opposite number Sven Ulreich to advance from his goal area and make a headed clearance ahead of Raul Bobadilla. The ball fell kindly for Alexander Esswein, who immediately launched the ball forward again to Tobias Werner and the Augsburg winger turned the ball easily into the empty net (7‘). In spite of the early setback, the Cannstatt Boys stuck to their guns and began to take more control of proceedings.
Filip Kostic tried his luck from a tight angle, but Hitz was alert to turn the Serbs shot away fort a corner (20‘). VfB’s number 18 was again involved in the next attack. Alexandru Maxim launched a free-kick from half-way towards Filip Kostic, who broke away from his marker on the left and fired across the face of the goal to Daniel Ginczek and the striker slotted home from close range to put his side back on level terms (22’).
Sven Ulreich: "In spite of t e defeat, we need to take the positive aspects from this match. We played the game well and created some good openings for ourselves. Over the next couple of weeks we will be up against opposition who are direct competitors, so we then must take the points if we are to survive in the top flight."
Post match comments
Having equalised, Huub Stevens‘ men pressed forward confidently and created chances, with Georg Niedermeier getting a header in on goal from a Kostic corner (30‘). VfB then hit on the break, with Christian Gentner spraying the ball out to Daniel Ginczek on the right, but Hitz was equal to the 24 year old’s effort (39’). Two minutes later, Serey Dié picked up his fifth yellow of the season, putting him out of the reckoning for next weekend’s clash with SC Freiburg. The 30-year-old midfielder was involved again minutes later, bursting forward and testing the FCA keeper with a flicked effort. VfB were the stronger side by the end of the first period, but went in at the break locked at 1-1.
VfB up the pressure
After the restart, Huub Stevens looked to take the initiative once again and built up a determined head of steam. Watched on by 3,000 travelling fans, as well as some 120 VfB employees, both Christian Gentner (46’) and Filip Kostic (47’) had chances to put their side in front, but there was to prove no way through for the Cannstatt Boys. With just over an hour played, the hosts again began to take charge and eventually took the lead through Raul Bobadilla (73‘), during a point in the game when the VfB defence looked to have a firm grip on the Augsburg attack.
Huub Stevens reacted to the renewed setback by introducing Timo Werner and Vedad Ibisevic, to lend a further alternative up front. In the 81st minute, Christian Gentner tried his luck from sixteen meters out, but was unable to test the FCA keeper. VfB continued to press in search of another equaliser, but the home side held strong and held out over the distance to secure all three points with a 2-1 win. It was a bitterly disappointing result on an evening when there was more there for the taking for Huub Stevens’ side.
