Our next opponents: FCA difficult to beat at home

Position

FC Augsburg have been in top form over recent weeks. Only one of the last eight games has ended in defeat. And that was a 3-0 reverse at Bayern Munich. Otherwise they have recently drawn three games and won four including two DFB Pokal ties against Schalke 04 (3-0) and away to Karlsruher SC (5-4 on penalties). The clash with the team from Baden in the Round of 16 was a thrilling encounter. The side from Karlsruhe looked like the winners late on but FCA levelled at 2-2 in the third minute of added time. The Bundesliga side won the penalty shootout and progressed to the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal for the first time since 2019. "It was a classic cup tie with the happier end for us and we're glad we've gone through," said goalkeeper Finn Dahmen who saved one spot-kick in the shootout as well as a penalty in the 90 minutes.

FC Augsburg picked up plenty of confidence three days after the DFB Pokal win. Last weekend, the team led by coach Jess Thorup secured a 2-2 draw away to second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. The Augsburg coach identified in his team's display "an improvement in performance because we were not only well organised defensively but also did some good moves in attack." The Frankfurt lead at the start of the second half was cancelled out with a goal scored by centre forward Phillip Tietz. FCA then took the lead at 2-1 with a tap-in from Samuel Essende (71'). Eintracht equalised soon after that to rescue a point. "Overall the draw was okay," said Jess Thorup. "It was a step in the right direction and a deserved point away to a top team." Augsburg ended a successful week with the 2-2 draw. That started four days before the DFB Pokal win in Karlsruhe with a well-earned 1-0 home win against VfL Bochum. FC Augsburg are currently thirteenth in the Bundesliga on 16 points. They are already eleven points above the drop zone and are only five points behind Freiburg in seventh place.

Personnel

The Pokal keeper Finn Dahmen missed last weekend's game in Frankfurt due to a shoulder ligament injury and will probably not be in the Augsburg squad on Saturday. Nediljko Labrovic is the first choice keeper this season. The Croat joined FCA in the summer from HNK Rijeka and has been between the sticks in all twelve previous Bundesliga matches. Jess Thorup now has at least more than one alternative in defence again. The right-sided defender Robert Gumny made his comeback against Frankfurt following a torn cruciate suffered in March of this year. The Pole came on as a substitute in the closing stages to make his 100th appearance for Augsburg.

Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is the boss of the defence in a back three. The 33-year-old Dutchman has been at FCA since January 2016, is the oldest player in the squad and extremely important to the team with his experience. Usually alongside him in defence are Chrislain Matsima and Keven Schlotterbeck. The new signing from SC Freiburg is also dangerous going forward having already scored two goals and provided one assist. Matsima, a 22-year-old on loan from AS Monaco, has been in the starting line-up since the middle of October. Elvis Rexhbecaj is an automatic first choice in the Augsburg midfield. "He's a soldier," said his coach. "He does everything for the team. He runs, sprints, presses, always tries to help the players around him and accepts responsibility. Every team needs someone like that."

Recently alongside him in the centre of the park are Kristijan Jakic, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, and Frank Onyeka who is on loan from Premier League club Brentford. Arne Maier is always a candidate for the starting XI. Marius Wolf has a regular slot on the right flank. The former Dortmund player has almost always started in all 13 games this term. Henri Koudoussou plays on the left flank and he has recently replaced the injured Dimitris Giannoulis. The Greek trained with the team again this week and will probably return to the matchday squad on Saturday. Up front, top scorer Philip Tietz (five goals, one assist) is joined by Samuel Essende (three goals), Alexis Claude-Maurice (three goals, one assist) or Ruben Vargas. Essende could miss the game against the Werkself due to illness.

Problems

FCA have frequently had problems getting going: They have already conceded seven goals in the opening fifteen minutes in the games this season. That is only equalled by Holstein Kiel (also seven). One weak point is the reaction of the defence at set plays. The team has already conceded nine goals from dead balls – only Holstein Kiel have one more. Augsburg are also susceptible in the air. The eight goals conceded from headers is the worst record in the league. The Thorup team also find it hard to set the pace. They only have an average of 41% possession. Augsburg are primarily often weak on the road. FCA have only picked up two of their 16 points away from home and only scored four goals in the process.

Performers

FC Augsburg are difficult to beat at home. The team under coach Jess Thorup have clocked up 14 points at the WWK Arena. Only Borussia Dortmund (19) and Bayern Munich (16) have picked up more points at home. Augsburg have gained ten points in their last four home games (three wins, one draw). They have also kept clean sheets in the last two matches in front of their own fans. FC Augsburg not only showed great determination in coming back in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt. They were also 1-0 down early on in the 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund on their own ground. Alexis Claude-Maurice was the matchwinner with a brace. The Frenchman, who joined Augsburg from OGC Nice in the summer, has proved to be a great addition to the attack. Eleven of the 16 goals scored have been netted by the trio of Tietz, Claude-Maurice and Essende. The three forwards often benefit from fast transitions by the Red Green and Whites who have already scored four goals in counter-attacks.