Following their 5-1 thrashing by Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund last week, Augsburg will be hoping to conclude their final home game of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign with three points as they eye Europa Conference League qualification.
The hosts currently occupy ninth place, sitting on 39 points in an insanely tight race for the last European spot up for grabs this year. Freiburg are the team who go into the closing two fixtures holding all the cards given their seventh placed standing.
While Stuttgart are an extremely tough test for Die Fuggerstadter, Freiburg travel to Heidenheim, who won't be an easy opponent either.
Just two points separate the sides, and despite Breisgau-Brasilianer having the points advantage, Augsburg's better goal difference could see a case of damage limitations, but that is result-dependent.
The last three fixtures have seen heavy scorelines inflicted on Jess Thorup's side, losing 3-1 to Frankfurt, 3-0 to Werder Bremen, and 5-1 to Dortmund.
Therefore, the hosts are keen to revive the form that led to four wins on the bounce in late February and early March, including a 6-0 drumming of relegated Darmstadt.
It's been almost a month since Augsburg last won a match (April 12), which was a 2-0 victory over Union Berlin, who recently sacked manager Nenad Bjelica.
What's more concerning is that they were held to a 1-1 draw to fellow relegation threatened FC Cologne a week prior.
In saying that, last week's score line flattered Dortmund. As Thorup made clear today in his press conference, Augsburg "did things well". However, it was a series of self-inflicted errors that condemned Die Fuggerstadter.
Individual defensive mistakes, two own-goals, and a goalkeeping error by Tomas Koubek were largely to blame. Thorup explained that they talked a lot about defence this week in training ahead of Stuttgart.
As Augsburg chase Europe, Stuttgart have already qualified for the Champions League and now seek to secure third place, according to manager Sebastian Hoeneß.
In third place and on 67 points, it has been an unimaginably successful season for Die Roten. After achieving promotion at the first time of asking in 2020, they went on to narrowly avoid relegation in two out of their three subsequent Bundesliga campaigns.
However, a year on from their relegation play-off victory, Stuttgart will return to the Champions League after 14 years; they also reached the DFB Pokal Cup quarter-final.
Hoeneß's side are still riding on the emotions of last week, when the Swabians provided an emphatic performance to beat Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Allianz Arena.
On the historic win, Hoeneß described the occasion as "very emotional" and "moving", admitting it took him a while to sleep.
The result places the visitors two points behind Bayern and, more importantly put four points between them and fourth-placed RB Leipzig.
While the necessity for three points may not be as pressing as Augsburg, Stuttgart will want to close out their season on a high following a string of impressive results in recent weeks, which has seen them beat Dortmund, Frankfurt, and Bayern.
However, Augsburg are due a victory, and with European football on the line plus home advantage, Die Fuggerstadter have the edge over their opponents.
Team News
Augsburg
Kristijan Jakic missed last week's Dortmund massacre due to suspension after receiving five yellow cards. In his press conference, Thorup said Jakic has "trained completely" this week.
His involvement will likely mean Tim Breithaupt will drop to the bench having filled in for the Croatian last week.
Left-back Lago has been suffering with a foot problem in recent weeks and did not feature in the squad that travelled to Dortmund. According to Thorup, the Brazilian is back in training but they will wait and see if he is an option for Friday.
Niklas Dorsch has been training for three weeks and is ready for "more minutes of action".
Raphael Framburger, Robert Gumny (both knee injuries), Elvis Rexbecaj (ankle), and Fredrick Jensen (calf) remain long-term absentees.
Reece Oxford was suffering from illness last week but is likely to feature on Friday having seemingly recovered.
Stuttgart
Sebastian Hoeneß offered several updates today in his press conference on the status of his injured personnel.
Defender Josha Vagnoman will not feature on Friday following a fatigue reaction in the metatarsus.
Central midfielder Lilian Egloff and Ghana born forward Roberto Massimo are both suffering from muscular problems and will also be absent.
Turning to the long-term absentees, Samuele di Benedetto remains sidelined with a broken leg, while Nikolas Nartey and Dan-Axel Zagadou join him.
On the pair, Thorup said: "Niko [Nartey] was on the pitch for the first time in partial training today." He has an expected return of the summer.
"Daxo [Zagadou] is also on the right track and was recently with us for a check up," Thorup added.
Likely line-ups
Augsburg: Koubek; Uduokhai, Pedersen, Mbabu, Bauer, Gooweleeuw; Vargas, Maier, Jakic; Demirovic, Tietz
Stuttgart: Nubel; Stergiou, Anton, Rouault, Ito; Karazor, Stiller, Leweling, Fuhrich; Undav, Guirassey.
Key Players
Stuttgart - Serhou Guirassy
Stuttgart striker sensation Serhou Guirassy has 25 goals in the Bundesliga this season, which makes him the second-top scorer in Germany's premier competition.
Unfortunately for the Guinean, he is competing with the world's most in-form striker, Harry Kane.
The England international sits 11 goals ahead of Guirassy, but he has played six more games, 32 compared to the Stuttgart talisman's 26 games.
Despite this, the stats are no less impressive. Boasting 1.11 goals per 90, averaging a goal every 81 minutes, the striker has a conversion rate of 35%, 2% higher than Kane, and a shot accuracy of 59%.
Also, he has forged a formidable partnership up front with Deniz Undav, the pair combining for a deverstating 43 goals between them.
While Guirassy is goalless in three, he will be eager to add to his goal tally with just two more fixtures to go until the end of the 2023–24 campaign.
Augsburg - Ermedin Demirovic
In what is shaping up to be the battle of the strikers, Augsburg's front man, Ermedin Demirovic, has been another who has demonstrated an eye for goal.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has 15 Bundesliga goals and nine assists.
Even though he has ten fewer goals than Guirassey in five more matches, his number of assists is most impressive.
While Stuttgart relies on Guirassy and Undav to score goals, Augsburg does the same but also needs the 26-year-old to create the opportunities alongside this.
Since his yellow card suspension picked up against Wolfsburg, keeping him out of the Koln fixture, he has scored just once.
Similar to Guirassy, Demirovic will be eager to add to his goal tally, which will be crucial in their quest for European qualification.
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match is being played at the WWK Arena.
What time is kick off?
The game will kick off at 19:30 on Friday (GMT).
How can I watch?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports, you can also follow via the app and website.