With just eight games remaining in the Bundesliga season, victory for visitors Stuttgart on Sunday at Augsburg's WWK Arena will be essential if they are to make the most of their rivals' dropping points.
Augsburg only have 31 points and are in 10th place, but their challengers are fourth with 50 points after RB Leipzig leapfrogged them due to goal difference on Friday.
Read on for our Augsburg vs Stuttgart and click here to find more betting tips for today.
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Augsburg vs. Stuttgart key stats
- Augsburg have scored exactly two goals in three of their past four home matches.
- Stuttgart have conceded at least two goals in four of their seven most recent fixtures.
- The hosts have kept five clean sheets in their past eight clashes at WWK Arena.
- The visitors have scored at least two times in four of their last five Bundesliga games.
Augsburg vs. Stuttgart preview: A vital clash in the race for top four
| Augsburg | vs | Stuttgart |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | Position | 4th |
| 31 | Points | 50 |
| 31 | Goals For | 51 |
| 45 | Goals Against | 34 |
| 5 | Clean Sheets | 10 |
| 9th | Home Rank | 3rd |
| 14th | Away Rank | 6th |
Augsburg should not be particularly concerned by the threat of relegation given they are seven points ahead of 16th-placed St Pauli, though four of their next five top-flight games come against teams currently in the top seven.
The hosts may have been beaten by Stuttgart in each of their last six encounters, but they come into the weekend's clash on the back of three consecutive triumphs at WWK Arena, and they will hope to extend their unbeaten streak at home to nine matches.
Augsburg have conceded the third most penalties in the league this season (seven).
Die Fuggerstadter have been beaten in their past two games, though they should not have been expected to get the better of either RB Leipzig or Borussia Dortmund.
Manuel Baum could start a back three featuring Arthur Chaves, Keven Schlotterbeck and Cedric Zesiger given Chrislain Matsima has still not recovered from a hamstring injury.
Stuttgart were third before Leipzig climbed above them due to goal difference on Friday, while fifth-placed Hoffenheim also have 50 points, and the battle for a place in the top four is sure to go down to the wire.
Die Roten were beaten 2-0 by Porto in the second leg of their Europa League clash on Thursday, with the result seeing them exit the competition 4-1 on aggregate at the round of 16 stage.
Stuttgart's average of 5.9 shots on target per match in the Bundesliga is only bettered by Bayern Munich (8.7).
The club were last in action in the Bundesliga on March 15, when they managed to beat RB Leipzig 1-0, and they have won three and drawn two of their five most recent outings in the German top flight.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness has predominantly used a back four during his time in charge, but he has recently experimented with a back three, and it will be interesting to see if he reverts to type following his side's loss against Porto.
Augsburg vs. Stuttgart form guide & betting tips
| AUG | vs | STU |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-W-L-L | League Form | W-D-W-D-W |
| 9 | Points | 11 |
| 6th | Form Table | 2nd |
| 7 | Goals For | 13 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 6 |
| W-W-W-L-L | Form (all comps) | W-D-L-W-L |
Whispers predicts: Augsburg 2-2 Stuttgart
Augsburg's strong home form and Stuttgart's mixed performances makes a draw a safe prediction at 3.8, despite the significant points gap between the two sides.
The hosts have often managed to score multiple times at home in recent matches, so Over 1.5 Goals for Augsburg at 1.5 seems to be a sensible assumption.
While Augsburg have been able to create chances at WWK Arena, it would be worthwhile to predict Both Teams to Score - priced at 1.53 - given Stuttgart have scored at least twice in four of their past five league games.
The visitors' ability to net more than once in the league also makes Over 1.5 Goals for Stuttgart a value bet, especially at 1.75.
> Over 1.5 goals for Augsburg | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 1.5 goals for Stuttgart | Likelihood: Possible
> BTTS | Likelihood: Probable