Deniz Undav’s first-half goal proved decisive as Stuttgart edged past Augsburg with a narrow 1-0 victory on Tuesday, securing their place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals for the second time in three seasons.
Match Recap
After suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last week, Stuttgart entered this fixture eager to bounce back. However, it took some time for Sebastian Hoeness’ men to find their rhythm against a disciplined Augsburg side.
The breakthrough arrived in the 30th minute. A misjudged clearance from Frank Onyeka ricocheted off Ermedin Demirovic, fortuitously landing in his path. Showing great awareness, Demirovic squared the ball across the face of goal, leaving Deniz Undav with a simple finish to put Stuttgart ahead.
Stuttgart nearly doubled their lead just before halftime. Chris Führich unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but his effort crashed against the post, with Augsburg goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic left rooted to the spot.
In the second half, Augsburg pushed for an equalizer, with Mert Komur testing Stuttgart’s keeper Alexander Nübel on two occasions. However, both attempts lacked the precision needed to truly trouble the German shot-stopper.
Despite Augsburg’s late pressure, Stuttgart held firm to secure a hard-fought victory, booking their spot in the semi-finals and keeping their hopes of a first DFB-Pokal title since 1997 alive.
Key Stats and Data Debrief
- Undav’s Impact: Deniz Undav continues to be Stuttgart’s talisman. His goal marked his 10th of the season across all competitions and his second in the DFB-Pokal.
- Managerial Milestone: Sebastian Hoeness became only the second Stuttgart coach—after Joachim Löw (1996-97 & 1997-98)—to reach the DFB-Pokal semi-finals twice since the Bundesliga’s inception in 1963-64.
- Defensive Solidity: Stuttgart’s defense was resolute, limiting Augsburg to just two shots on target, both of which were comfortably dealt with by Alexander Nübel.
- Augsburg’s Struggles: Augsburg’s inability to convert possession into meaningful chances was evident, as they failed to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities throughout the match.
What’s Next?
Stuttgart will eagerly await the outcome of the remaining quarter-final fixtures, with Bayer Leverkusen set to face Cologne on Wednesday. Arminia Bielefeld will meet Werder Bremen, and RB Leipzig will take on Wolfsburg next week to complete the semi-final lineup.
For Stuttgart, the focus will now shift back to their Bundesliga campaign as they aim to maintain their strong domestic form while dreaming of a DFB-Pokal final appearance for the first time since 2013.
Final Score:
Stuttgart 1-0 Augsburg
(Goal: Undav 30′)
