Augsburg vs Stuttgart: Hosts Hope to Upset Odds in DFB-Pokal Showdown

Augsburg Out to Prove a Point Against Bundesliga Giantkillers

When Augsburg step onto the pitch to face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal, tension is already in the air. Sitting 12th in the Bundesliga, Augsburg know they are up against it. Their recent record is mixed but hardly terrible—after all, they're unbeaten in their last four matches, a streak that includes a hard-fought 1-1 draw with FC St. Pauli. But ask any Augsburg fan about their last meeting with Stuttgart, and you’ll get a grim look: it ended in a 0-1 defeat just a few weeks ago. Clearly, this is a team hungry to flip the narrative and prove they're not just cannon fodder for the league’s rising stars.

The story for Stuttgart couldn't be much different. The guys from Swabia are riding high, their eyes fixed on a place in the Bundesliga's top four after a string of solid performances. Sure, their most recent outing was a reality check—a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach—but that was their only hiccup in an otherwise smooth run. When these two teams collide, the head-to-head stats do Augsburg no favours. Stuttgart have taken 12 wins from their last 24 meetings, including several where they barely let Augsburg get a kick in.

Lineups, Key Players, and What to Expect

Injuries threaten to slow down Stuttgart. Key players like Luca Raimund, Justin Diehl, and El Bilal Touré are ruled out of the cup fixture, leaving gaps that coach Sebastian Hoeneß will need to patch up. Even so, the core of their attack remains dangerous. Expect Stuttgart to roll out their trusted 4-4-2, with Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic—a pair that's forged a real chemistry—leading the charge. The duo has a knack for stretching defences and finding pockets of space others can’t see.

Augsburg, meanwhile, will look to stick to what's working. Their coach is unlikely to tinker too much with a lineup that’s found some stability lately. Defensive organisation has been their biggest weapon, and they’ll try to use that shield again, hoping to absorb Stuttgart’s pressure and hit back on rare counters. But consistency at the back hasn’t always come easy for them, especially when faced with Stuttgart's mobility and tempo.

Home advantage doesn’t always count for much against teams with Stuttgart’s away form. They travel well—often looking more comfortable on the road than in front of their own fans. That’s got to be a nagging worry for the Augsburg faithful: the visitors have outplayed them on numerous occasions, home or away, with a style that strangles the life out of opponents and punishes every mistake.

If you’re expecting a cagey cup tie, think again. Both teams have points to prove: Augsburg, that they can compete with the Bundesliga’s best; Stuttgart, that their pursuit of glory isn’t a fluke. Players will fight for every inch, but it’s Stuttgart who come in as favourites—backed by a deeper squad, a clearer identity, and head-to-head numbers that don’t lie.