The VfB Starts the New Year with a Win, But Makes Things Unnecessarily Difficult in AugsburgIs this the famous “horse that barely clears the obstacle,” or does the team have a more fundamental issue with opponents like these?
At some point in the middle of the second half, I truly lost my temper. Anthony Rouault received the ball from Alex Nübel on the right and opted for a risky—or rather reckless—way to build up play. The ball was played half-high, with half-hearted effort, across the Stuttgart half and gratefully picked up by an Augsburg attacker. Fortunately for us and Rouault, FCA was far less dangerous on Sunday evening than St. Pauli was just before Christmas. In that game, an almost identical pass led to Eggestein’s goal, which ultimately became the decisive strike. The fact that similar passes were made at the start of this year’s campaign is an alarming sign, as it suggests that the match against Hamburg over the holidays wasn’t carefully reviewed. Rouault’s mistake wasn’t the only careless cross-field pass from the VfB defense, but Augsburg’s expected goals (xG) of only 0.22 owed more to their woefully inept attack than Stuttgart’s sharp defense. Time and again, they delivered field goals instead of actual goals.
And if Deniz Undav hadn’t been there—standing onside despite my TV-induced doubts—it would have been a frustrating evening for VfB, a game that started so well. The team began the match exactly as I’d hoped: alert, pressing forward with intent, strong off-the-ball movement, and precise passing combinations. It was reminiscent of last season’s performances, overwhelming Augsburg with superior skill—without even fielding Undav or Leweling. But it quickly became clear why things had faltered without those two recently. Ermedin Demirović had enough chances to score three goals but converted none. His central header was saved by Finn Dahmen, and his other attempts—a header and a shot—went wide. Scoring even once would have been crucial, likely sealing the game early given Augsburg’s toothlessness.
Build-Up Play Without Intensity
Around the 30th minute, dangerous balls into Augsburg’s penalty area suddenly dried up. It was as though the team was disappointed their early efforts hadn’t paid off and decided to try the same approach but with less intensity. Misplaced passes and lost balls began piling up, and the players’ willingness to run diminished. Meanwhile, the players in the iconic ringed shirts tried to stick to their usual build-up play, but a lack of precision often led to Augsburg counterattacks—fortunately, these posed little real danger. One telling moment was a free kick awarded to VfB in their own half that inexplicably ended up at the feet of an Augsburg player. If this game had been played in December, injuries and fatigue might have been valid excuses for the drop in intensity. But after a three-week break and with better squad availability, I can’t find a reason—except that this team struggles to maintain focus and intensity in games where they’re the favorites and aware of it. Key duels in critical areas were lost, and loose balls were often claimed first by Augsburg.
This all sounds overly negative after a 1–0 victory—something we haven’t seen often this season. It’s not that I think a 1–0 win over Augsburg is insufficient; I’ll take any victory, no matter how it looks. But this one was far too close for comfort, and once again, VfB almost squandered their reward against an offensively limited opponent like Hoffenheim or St. Pauli. The team’s potential was evident in the first half-hour, just as it was in Stiller’s beautiful chip pass and Undav’s determined finish. Yet for some reason, they keep flirting with disaster. Maybe they already had the grueling weeks ahead on their minds, assuming Augsburg would be a manageable challenge that didn’t require full effort. I don’t know. I’m thrilled with the win and another clean sheet, but it’s frustrating to see how hard they make it when they should have the game in hand. On a positive note, Jacob Bruun Larsen came on at just the right moment. His quick sprints and precise passes exploited the gaps Augsburg left as they pushed forward late in the game. For a first appearance after just a few days with the team, it was a solid debut.
The Opening is Behind Us
What’s clear is this: VfB can’t afford to perform like this against upcoming opponents—and they likely won’t. Perhaps the dip in intensity had something to do with the lack of quality in the opposition, and the focus will sharpen against players like Xavi Simons or Vincenzo Grifo. For now, we remain within striking distance of the European spots and have successfully navigated the often-anticipated first game of the year. But in the coming weeks, VfB will need more than just Deniz Undav.
Image: © Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images