- Form: Stuttgart II are unbeaten in their last 3 home games (W2, D1).
- Away form: Aue have been poor on the road this season (W1, L11, D4).
- Players to watch: Stuttgart II are youthful, proactive, and have Noah Darvich as their top scorer.
Stuttgart II - A fresh, vibrant team in 13th
Overview and management
VfB Stuttgart II have been consistently solid in the 3. Liga, currently sitting 13th with 42 points from 33 games. They’ve been solid, not spectacular, and Nico Willig has steered the ship in an exciting direction since taking charge, focusing on an attacking style of soccer and integrating Stuttgart’s talented youth into the side.
Style and tactics
Stuttgart II are a young and energetic team that will press, play with the ball, and transition quickly. Willig’s tactics have a base of possession and flexibility, with the ability to switch between 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 with ease, pressing in numbers and attacking in waves, which has proven to be a nightmare for opponents.
Key player
Noah Darvich has been Stuttgart’s saving grace this season, with the young German attacking midfielder scoring nine goals in 24 3. Liga games.
Aue are in big trouble
Aue appointed Khvicha Shubitidze as their manager in April 2026, and while he’s not had a huge amount of time to turn the tide, he will know that his team will need to find stability and points if they’re to pull away from the relegation zone - they currently sit 19th, with 25 points from 33 matches.
Aue are pragmatic and will set up deep and compact, playing a solid defensive system, hoping to cause problems with set-pieces and counter-attacking. They aren’t a team to blow teams away in terms of pace or flair, so the onus will be on Aue’s players to stay disciplined in terms of positions and lines of the field.
In a similar vein, Marcel Baer has been the bright spot for Aue this season, the German forward scoring seven 3. Liga goals in 17 appearances - three of which came in Aue’s last seven league matches.
Back Stuttgart II for the win
With Stuttgart II being so youthful and Aue being a much older and less energetic team, I expect Stuttgart II’s energetic and attacking play to be too much for Aue. Aue have lost their last three away games and they’ve struggled to earn points on the road all season.
Key reasons
Given the contrasting tactics of these two sides and the fact that Stuttgart II have shown their true colours since Nico Willig’s appointment, I think their energy and wing-backs in advanced positions will open up a deep and passive Aue backline, so I’m expecting a game where both teams will get on the scoresheet and Stuttgart II will nick the win.
- Stuttgart II have been solid at home (W8, D3, L5) and they’ve found the net 23 times on home soil, while Aue have conceded 31 goals in 16 away fixtures this campaign.
- Given the contrasting tactics of these two sides and the fact that Stuttgart II have shown their true colours since Nico Willig’s appointment, I think their energy and wing-backs in advanced positions will open up a deep and passive Aue backline, so I’m expecting a game where both teams will get on the scoresheet and Stuttgart II will nick the win.
