Maaßen: We want to kick on in Freiburg

An away fixture early on Sunday evening

Matchday 6 of the Bundesliga season will see FC Augsburg face SC Freiburg on Sunday at 17:30 CEST. After the important 2-1 home win over 1. FSV Mainz 05, FCA now want to pick up points on the road.

“We want to and we have to kick on in Freiburg, and we have prepared well,” said FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen ahead of the clash against SCF, who are currently ninth in the standings. Maaßen knows that his side will have to defend well if they want to take all three points in Freiburg. “Apart from the start of the game against Mainz, we’ve significantly limited our opponents’ shots at our goal in the last two games and that’s fundamental if we want to be successful,” stated Maaßen.

However, Augsburg will have to do without Arne Engels, who is suspended for the next two matches following his red card. Maaßen named four midfielders who could potentially come in for Engels: Fredrik Jensen, Arne Maier, Niklas Dorsch and Tim Breithaupt. “As always, my decision will be based on current form. All of the boys are fighting to get into the team,” explained the FCA head coach.

Okugawa back in team training

Alongside Engels and long-term injured Raphael Framberger and Reece Oxford, the boss will also be without Japhet Tanganga and Masaya Okugawa, who are not yet fit enough to be in the matchday squad. However, Okugawa took part in some of team training this week for the first time after his knee injury and will be an option after the international break at the latest, but FCA want to improve on their current 12th position in the table before then.

Maaßen described upcoming opponents Freiburg as “a team that has played together for a long time and is very experienced.” The FCA coach also praised the man in charge of SCF, Christian Streich, for having a positive impact on the club for such a long period of time. “They’re playing in Europe for the second consecutive season and that’s testament to what he’s built there.”