Stuttgart has everything but good memories of this day at the end of October in the Bavarian Swabia. At that time, the VfB plagued massive personnel problems. Corona and injuries had already greatly added to the squad by Pellegrino Matarazzo in advance. For this purpose, the failures of Chris Führich (22 minutes) and Marc Oliver Kempf (39th) came in the first half of the game, which actually started well and with a guided tour of the guests of the Neckar. “It was very annoying how the game runs,” explains the chef coach in retrospect. “But now it’s a completely different situation.”

The Stuttgarts have almost all power carriers to Silas (Schulter-OP), most recently spotted against Gladbach (3: 2) and at Union Berlin (1: 1) and creates new courage in the relegation battle. With Nikolas Nardey (knee operation), Lilian Egloff (back problems) and the freshly operated Naouirou Ahamada (after toe break) and the long-term injured Mo Sankoh, which is located after its heavy knee surgery in construction training, only supplement players are currently excluded. Good conditions to be able to conquer Augsburg. “A very unpleasant opponent who last dotted well and comes with a broad breast. It will be a very explosive game,” says Matarazzo, who builds next to an almost complete squad on an almost full house.

Despite the Corona restrictions currently in Baden-Württemberg, VfB may receive 60,000 visitors with a special permit. So far, 51,500 places are sold, 1500 of them to the fans of the guests. With around 54,000 will be expected on Saturday. More were in the Bundesliga last on May 11, 2019, when 54,068 persecuted the game against VfL Wolfsburg. In the 2nd league on March 9, 2020 even 54,302 against Bielefeld came. It was the last game before the first Corona Lockdown.

“We are extremely looking forward to the viewers who can give us a boost,” says Matarazzo, who also knows that his team is in the money’s debt. “It will be important to get well into the game to take the viewers. Then we have a huge board in the back for the complete game.”