Augsburg 4-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Führich 7’ (assist: Endo), 1-1 Oxford 30’ (assist: Maier), 2-1 Gouweleeuw 53’ (assist: Vargas), 3-1 Niederlechner 72’ (assist: Finnbogason), 4-1 Finnbogason 81' (assist: Zeqiri)

Stuttgart got off to an excellent start, pushing Augsburg back and taking the lead inside seven minutes when Chris Führich came in off the right flank before finding the near bottom corner with his left foot. His game didn’t last too much longer, however, as injury forced him off after 22 minutes. The home side fought their way back into proceedings, Ruben Vargas and Alfred Finnbogason both firing off efforts. The latter’s shot was saved, but the ensuing corner brought Die Fuggerstädter level when Oxford headed in Arne Maier’s delivery. Stuttgart suffered a further injury setback when Marc-Oliver Kempf also had to go off before the break. Another set piece almost gave Augsburg a half-time lead, but Oxford failed to hit the target this time.

There was no mistake in the second half, though, when another corner – this time from the left – proved Stuttgart’s undoing. Vargas didn’t quite connect with the cross and the ball popped up. The quickest to react was Augsburg captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw to nod past a stranded Fabian Bredlow. Finnbogason had a chance to put some distance between these two Swabian neighbours but was denied by a last-ditch block by England U21 international Clinton Mola. The three points were finally in the bag when substitute Florian Niederlechner hammered home from close range after the visitors again failed to clear their lines at a cross. The icing on the cake came when Finnbogason drove one past Bredlow from the edge of the box for his first goal in over a year. Augsburg remain in the relegation play-off spot but are now four points clear of Arminia Bielefeld below them, and only one off Stuttgart in safety.

Highlights

Oxford on target as Augsburg beat Stuttgart