Bundesliga
Undav sends Stuttgart into last four
Deniz Undav scored the only goal of the game as VfB Stuttgart squeezed past Augsburg in the DFB Cup quarter-finals to seal their place last four.
Stuttgart 1-0 Augsburg
Goals: 1-0 Undav 30' (assist: Demirović)
Having started 2025 with a five-game unbeaten run comprising four straight wins and a draw, Augsburg began in confident fashion and pinned the home side back inside their own half for the first 25 minutes or so, albeit without every seriously troubling goalkeeper Alexander Nübel. VfB had a first glimpse of goal when Angelo Stiller picked out Undav with a fine pass only for his shot to be well blocked by Nediljko Labrović. The goalkeeper was powerless to keep out Undav’s opener on the half-hour mark though, the Germany international tucking away confidently from Ermedin Demirović’s cut-back after Frank Onyeka’s failed attempted clearance. VfB were on top after that and would have doubled their lead before the break had Chris Führich’s fine strike not struck the post.
There was precious little to see of the aggressive, attack-minded Augsburg for the remainder of the match. Stuttgart, having lost four successive competitive games coming into this one, were determined to get a morale-boosting win – and pushed for more. Undav went close to adding a second with a curling effort from the edge of the box that narrowly missed the top corner. It wasn’t until the 80th minute that Augsburg had a sight of goal again when Dimitrios Giannoulis tore down the left and cut the ball back for substitute Mert Kömür, but his shot was straight at Nübel. That was as good as it got for the away side though, as Stuttgart held on to seal their spot in the semi-finals.
Match stats
- Stuttgart overcame a trio of Bundesliga 2 clubs in the previous rounds, beating Preußen Münster 5-0, Kaiserslautern 2-1 and Jahn Regensburg 3-0.
- Demirović and Undav each have a team-high 10 competitive goals for Stuttgart in 2024/25, followed by Woltemade on nine. Demirović scored a career-best 15 Bundesliga goals in Augsburg colours last term.
- VfB are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Augsburg, winning six.
- Augsburg needed penalties to see off Bundesliga 2's Karlsruhe in the last 16. They won 4-1 at fourth-tier Viktoria Berlin and 3-0 at home to Schalke (Bundesliga 2) in rounds one and two respectively.
- Samuel Essende is one of seven players on a competition-leading three goals in this season's DFB Cup, including Stuttgart counterpart Woltemade.
- Augsburg have lost 1112of their past 13 DFB Cup meetings with Bundesliga opposition. Their 3-2 win against Mainz in the 2018/19 second round is the exception.
Teams
Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Bruun Larsen (Leweling 70'), Karazor (c), Stiller, Führich (Keitel 70') - Undav (Millot 83'), Demirović
Unused subs: Bredlow, Jaquez, Jeltsch, Stenzel, Nartey, Rieder
Out: Al-Dakhil (thigh), Diehl (hamstring), Raimund (thigh), Touré (ankle), Zagadou (cruciate ligament),
Doubtful: Diehl (hamstring)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Augsburg: Labrović - Matsima, Gouweleeuw (c), Schlotterbeck (Essende 58') - Wolf (Pedersen 83'), Onyeka (Maier 69'), Jakić (Jensen 83'), Rexhbeçaj (Kömür 58'), Giannoulis - Claude-Maurice, Tietz
Unused subs: Dahmen, Banks, Zesiger, Kücüksahin
Out: Berisha (hamstring), Kabadayı (knee), Koudossou (thigh), Oxford (illness)
Coach: Jess Thorup
As it happened!
1 - 0(1 - 0)
Stuttgart
FINAL
Augsburg
90' +4
vs
Frustrations boil over
Giannoulis scythes down Millot on the right-hand side of the area. That's surely it for Augsburg...
90' +4
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Dimitrios Giannoulis
90' +3
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Stuttgart have the ball...
... and they have it deep in the Augsburg half...
89'
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FOUR added minutes
Can Augsburg force extra-time in Stuttgart?
83'
vs
Mads Pedersen
Marius Wolf
87'
vs
Flashpoint!
The home fans are up in arms over what they perceive as a rash challenge from Pedersen on Mittelstädt. The referee has a word in the ear of the culprit, but refrains from dishing out a booking.
84'
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Fresh legs
Wolf does indeed make way, with Pedersen his replacement. The more attack-minded Jensen is also on for midfielder Jakić, while Hoeneß swaps goalscorer and all-round attacking menace Undav with Millot.
83'
vs
Enzo Millot
Deniz Undav
83'
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Fredrik Jensen
Kristijan Jakić
81'
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Injury concern
Wolf's gone down and needs treatment. Thorup is considering making another change...
78'
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Straight at Nübel
Kömür connects with Giannoulis's cut-back, but his first-time strike only finds the gloves of Nübel. Those changes have lifted Augsburg - can they go on and find an equaliser?
74'
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Caution
Keitel's first real involvement is to bring down Claude-Maurice. Clear booking for the VfB substitute.
73'
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Yannik Keitel
68'
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Ermedin Demirović
71'
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Kömür!
Augsburg's teenaged sub scored a belter at the weekend, and that's another superb effort from range that forces Nübel into a strong diving save to his left.
70'
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More changes
Führich has been very lively on the left-hand side, but Leweling will carry exactly the same kind of threat from the other. Keitel's also come on as Hoeneß opts for an extra man in the middle, with Bruun Larsen hooked. Augsburg have replaced Onyeka with midfielder Maier, meanwhile.
70'
vs
Yannik Keitel
Chris Führich
70'
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Jamie Leweling
Jacob Bruun Larsen
69'
vs
Arne Maier
Frank Onyeka
59'
vs
Positive change
Augsburg top scorer Essende and last weekend's super-sub Kömür are on for the visitors as they chase the game.
58'
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Samuel Essende
Keven Schlotterbeck
58'
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Mert Kömür
Elvis Rexhbecaj
64'
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Short-corner routine
Interesting that Stuttgart have played their last two corners short to Führich. Nothing's come of them, but that's clearly something they've been working on in training.
60'
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Also in the mix
Holders Leverkusen, who knocked out Stuttgart at this stage last season, host Bundesliga 2's Cologne on Wednesday. The remaining quarter-finals take place on 25th and 26th of February respectively, when Werder Bremen go to third-tier Bielefeld and Leipzig host Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg.
56'
vs
Commentator's curse
And just like that, Tietz receives a pass in a promising position in the area and lashes wide of the far post. It wouldn't have counted, though - he controlled the ball with a hand.
52'
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Stuttgart on the front-foot
This is worrying for Augsburg. They just haven't got going since the restart. In fact, they've barely made any in-roads since the 20th minute of the game.
46'
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No changes at the break
That's true in more ways than one as Stuttgart pick up where they left off, with Führich having a shot charged down. How long before Thorup shuffles his pack?
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
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Into added time...
... as Undav has a goal-bound strike blocked by Schlotterbeck. Another two minutes to play of the first half...
44'
vs
Post!
Führich goes on the outside of Matsima before trying to catch out Labrović at his near post, but the ball cannons back off the outside of the woodwork!
43'
vs
Ambitious
The space opens up as Undav turns away from three Augsburg players, but he can only curl the wall wide of the far post from 20 yards. Not an easy one by any stretch.
40'
vs
Not enough power
Tietz meets an in-swinging free-kick from Wolf, but his header is straight into the arms of Alexander Nübel.
39'
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Stuttgart mean business
Last season's Bundesliga runners-up have taken control of this one. They're getting men forward in numbers and finding pockets of space in and around the Augsburg area.
36'
vs
Not given
Stuttgart attack with Bruun Larsen, who thinks he should have a corner, but the decision goes the way of Augsburg's Giannoulis. Tenacious defending!
34'
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Stuttgart fans refind their voice
Undav's 10th goal of the season has really lifted the mood among the VfB faithful, after a frustrating first 25 minutes from the home side's perspective.
30'
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Breakthrough goal!
Stuttgart make the most of their best spell by taking the lead. Undav collects a long pass under pressure from Matsima and helps it on to Demirović in the Augsburg area. The Bosnian controls really well and shows great awareness to knock the ball back for Undav to sweep a cool finish through the legs of Schlotterbeck and past the wrong-footed goalkeeper. There's a check for a possible offside, but the goal stands.
26'
vs
Denied!
Stuttgart finally find their range as Stiller lifts a ball into the penalty box for Undav. He's being hounded by Augsburg players, but still manages to get off a shot that Labrović does well to block at close quarters.
24'
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No cutting edge
Stuttgart find space on the left with Führich, whose low cross is blocked behind by Matsima. The corner's played short to Stiller, but his first-time pass into the area doesn't trouble the Augsburg defence. That just about sums up VfB's peformance so far.
19'
vs
Not clicking
Stuttgart try to move the ball through the final third, but Karazor's forward pass is easily picked off by a green shirt. Cue a few groans among the home fans...
15'
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Augsburg asking the questions
Augsburg get in behind again, but the pass into the box has too much on it for Claude-Maurice. Wolf then sees a probing cut-back hooked away.
6'
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Defensive mode
Stuttgart are being hemmed in their own half by a combative Augsburg in the early stages. A quick exchange involving Wolf temporarily prised open the defence, before Hendriks intervened to clear the impending threat.
4'
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Danger!
Wolf wins a free-kick on the right-hand side of the area after being upended by Mittelstädt. His initial free-kick is only half cleared, but Tietz's follow-up attempt is blocked and VfB are able to shovel it clear.
1'
vs
Right idea
Stuttgart take possession and go straight on the attack with right-back Stergiou, whose cross is too close to Dahmen in the Augsburg goal.
1'
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Under way!
Augsburg kick off in their change strip of all green, roared on by 4,000 travelling fans at the MHP Arena.
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Teams out
Hoeneß and Thorup share a pre-match joke on the touchline, but they know the fight to reach the cup semis is no laughing matter. Kick-off is imminent...
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The stage is set
Sub-zero temperatures in Stuttgart tonight as the teams make their way to the tunnel. The home fans are really making themselves heard, though...
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History favours the hosts
VfB are unbeaten in their last six matches against Augsburg, winning five. Augsburg, meanwhile, have lost 11 of their past 12 DFB Cup meetings with Bundesliga opposition. Their 3-2 win against Mainz in the 2018/19 second round is the exception.
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More on those teams
Jeff Chabot, Maxi Mittelstädt, Atakan Karazor, Chris Führich and Deniz Undav all return for Stuttgart. As for Augsburg, Keven Schlotterbeck slots back into the defence following a league suspension, while Phillip Tietz is preferred to Samuel Essende in attack.