VfB Stuttgart surpasses Bayern Munich.
VfB Stuttgart played superbly in their game against Augsburg. Star player Serhou Guirassy, who had scored 26 goals, shone once again and even set a new record for the team.
Stuttgart's top performers, led by Guirassy, have their sights set on securing second place in the Bundesliga ahead of FC Bayern Munich. They've been playing fantastically in the Champions League. Following their recent 3-1 win over Bayern, their points tally surpassed Bayern's (69) to lead them for the first time on 70 points with one matchday left.
Guirassy sent the 30,660 spectators at the sold-out WWK Arena into raptures with a goal in the 48th minute against Augsburg, who have now lost for the fourth consecutive game, likely putting an end to their hopes of qualifying for the European Cup. Stuttgart celebrated their 22nd victory of the season, a club record in the Bundesliga. However, Bayern can still recover on Sunday with a home game against VfL Wolfsburg. Finishing as runners-up would be significant for VfB as it would entitle them to compete in the Supercup against Bayer Leverkusen if Bayern wins the DFB Cup final against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on May 25, the overwhelming favorite.
Augsburg fought back to avoid another loss, but Stuttgart were just too strong. Millot launched a long ball to Guirassy, who skillfully controlled it with his right foot before slipping it into the net with his left. Augsburg nearly leveled in the 88th minute, but Nübel pulled off a fantastic save to deny Demirovic.
Things are not looking bright for Augsburg
After Augsburg's last three losses with a cumulative 11 goals conceded and their 5-1 defeat at Dortmund a week prior, coach Thorup made tactical and personal changes. He switched to a back four and added three defensive midfielders, which helped. Despite Stuttgart's strong attack creating opportunities, Augsburg weren't sitting back passively. Ruben Vargas tried his luck with a free-kick, only for it to be blocked by the Stuttgart wall. Vargas, a Swiss international, had to exit the game with a groin injury, and Maier replaced him as the playmaker. Centre-back Uduokhai twice came to the rescue with timely clearances.
With the early goal, Stuttgart supporters set off fireworks in their jubilation. The game turned into an open spectacle. Augsburg charged at Stuttgart but VfB showcased their development under Hoenness, moving from verging on relegation to rising among the top national teams.
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Despite VfB Stuttgart's impressive run, FC Augsburg is still fighting to secure their place in the Bundesliga. Even in their recent match against Stuttgart, they demonstrated resilience, with Ruben Vargas attempting a free-kick and their defense showing improvement under new tactics. However, Stuttgart's formidable attack, spearheaded by Serhou Guirassy, proved too much, leaving Augsburg looking towards the next game for a potential turnaround. With VfB Stuttgart currently leading the Bundesliga, VfB Stuttgart's VfB Stuttgart and FC Augsburg face each other again in the future, providing a chance for Augsburg to potentially avenge their loss and regain ground in the league.
Source: www.ntv.de
