Looking back: Nine without a loss
VfB are unbeaten in their last nine matches against Augsburg, with eight wins and a draw in that run. The last six all produced VfB wins – five in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB Cup. This is the club’s longest current winning run against any Bundesliga opponents. Earlier in the season in Stuttgart, Sebastian Hoeneß’s side squeezed home 3-2 thanks to goals from Maximilian Mittelstädt and a Deniz Undav brace.
Old friend Fabian Rieder
Last season, Fabian Rieder made 33 competitive appearances for VfB, scoring twice and setting up another seven goals. At the end of the campaign, the 24-year-old returned to his parent club Rennes, before moving to Augsburg at the end of the summer transfer window. The attacker currently has three goals and four assists in his new colours.
Two losses in a row – dip in form or cause for concern?
Although Augsburg are unbeaten in their last eight Bundesliga home games (W5 D3), they have just suffered two losses in a row away from home for the first time since the return of head coach Manuel Baum (2-1 to Leipzig, 2-0 to Dortmund).
Augsburg’s Alexis Claude-Maurice has been involved in at least one goal in each of the last five Bundesliga home games, with four goals and two assists.
Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav, meanwhile is second in the Bundesliga scoring charts this season with 16, behind only Bayern’s Harry Kane (30). Sixteen goals after 26 matchdays is a VfB top-flight tally bettered only by Serhou Guirassy in 2023/24 (22) and Fredi Bobic in 1996/97 (17). The Germany international has also been on the scoresheet in five consecutive league games for the first time.
Away fans
2,900 of the VfB faithful will be cheering on Hoeneß’s side in Bavaria on Sunday.
