Position
FCA's success last weekend was good in two respects: firstly, in the 1-0 win over TSG Hoffenheim, they didn't concede for the first time this season. Secondly, the narrow home win in the friendly against their league rivals will give them confidence for the upcoming challenge against the Werkself. Finland's Fredrik Jensen scored the decisive goal for the Bavarians after just two minutes. Centre-forward Phillip Tietz, who hit the crossbar, as well as substitutes Mert Kömür and Nathanael Mbuku could have made the win more comfortable. But even so, FCA can go into their first competitive match of 2024 this Saturday feeling positive.
The past year ended on a less successful note. From their last three games in December, Augsburg were only able to pick up one point against Borussia Dortmund (1-1). The defeats at Werder Bremen (2-0) and VfB Stuttgart (3-0) were the first under coach Jess Thorup. The 53-year-old Dane took over from Enrico Maaßen in October after Matchday 7. Up to that point, FCA had amassed just five points and had lost 2-0 to third division side SpVgg Unterhaching in the first round of the DFB Cup. They then remained unbeaten in their first six games under Thorup, picking up 12 of a possible 18 points and climbing from 15th to 9th place. At the end of Matchday 13, the gap to sixth-placed Hoffenheim was down to just three points. FCA now go into the match against leaders Leverkusen in 11th place. By the way: Lukas Hradecky will be reunited with his former coach Jess Thorup on Saturday. Thorup coached the Bayer 04 goalkeeper at Danish club Esbjerg between 2011 and 2013.
PersonNEL
After the friendly win against Hoffenheim, FC Augsburg went on a brief two-day trip to Pitztal in Tyrol. "We undertook various team-building measures to bring everyone even closer together," said Thorup, who has hardly any selection worries ahead of the match against Bayer 04. He will be without left-back Mads Pedersen, who is currently suspended and who underwent a long-planned operation on his ankle during the winter break anyway. Robert Gumny and possibly the Brazilian Iago are likely options. The latter suffered a groin strain before the Christmas break and has only been able to train individually recently. Midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj, who has started all 16 league games so far, was also absent from the friendly against Hoffenheim due to groin issues. Striker Irvin Cardona and midfielder Aaron Zehnter are no longer in the FCA squad. Cardona was loaned out to French second division club AS St. Etienne during the winter break, while Zehnter moved to SC Paderborn 07.
The two centre-backs Felix Uduokhai and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw are guaranteed to start, as well as Kevin Mbabu on the right side of the back four. Rexhbecaj and Niklas Dorsch form a well-drilled partnership in central midfield. Arne Engels recently replaced the injured Rexhbecaj. Captain Ermedin Demirovic is the focal point of the FCA attack. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has scored eight goals and set up another five so far, making him the player with the most goal contributions for his side. Fredrik Jensen is definitely one of the winners under Jess Thorup. The 26-year-old, who has been pulling on the red, green and white jersey since 2018, has been in brilliant form for weeks and has already set up four goals from the right flank (1 goal). Up front, new signing Philipp Tietz (from SV Darmstadt 98) is the second-highest scorer after Demirovic with three goals.
PERFORMERS
No team have picked up more points after going behind than Augsburg, who equal Borussia Dortmund's tally of 12. The team have shown their comeback qualities in particular since Thorup took the helm. In his first four games as head coach, FCA consistently went behind and yet always managed to get a result (two wins, two draws). The Bavarians are particularly difficult to beat at home in the WWK Arena, where they've lost just one of their eight home games so far (3 wins, 4 draws). They're battlers who put in a lot of legwork, often making good use of wingers Jensen, Ruben Vargas and Arne Engels. Demirovic and Tietz are the most lethal target men.
ProblemS
FCA have not managed to keep a clean sheet in a single competitive match this season. The Bavarians are particularly vulnerable at set-pieces, having already conceded 12 goals from dead ball situations - only 1. FC Heidenheim have an even worse record (13). Augsburg also struggle when in possession. Thorup's side have the lowest pass completion rate in the league (366) and the lowest possession percentage of all teams (41.2%).
PrEDICTION
"We're not going to park the bus in front of the goal, we'll never play like that," announced FCA coach Thorup in mid-December before the last home game against a powerful attacking side from Dortmund - and he kept his word. Augsburg held BVB to a 1-1 draw and created lots of chances. The hosts will not sit deep against the Werkself in front of their home crowd either. However, they will have to do a lot better than in the last game of 2023, when FCA had no chance in the 3-0 defeat at Stuttgart. "If we play like that against Leverkusen, we'll get punished," remarked a self-critical Niklas Dorsch after the match. Still, Augsburg won against Bayer 04 for the first time ever in the Bundesliga last season - and they did it twice.
January is a demanding month for Dorsch and his teammates. After the clash with the Werkself, they travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach, before hosting Bayern Munich. By the end of the month, it will be clearer where FC Augsburg's journey could take them in their 13th Bundesliga season. Back towards the relegation battle? Or can Demirovic continue to hope - as he said before the season - "that we might be playing for the UEFA Conference League or tenth place on the last matchday"? Both paths are possible.
