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Four games to go with the Bundesliga season on its home stretch. The race for the remaining points is tough, especially against our direct competitors. On Sunday, we welcome FC Augsburg in what is already our third match of the season. Let’s LOOK AHEAD to the game.
THE TEAM
It’s getting tight for FC Augsburg who are still in the thick of the relegation battle. Yet recently it looked as if FCA were heading for more relaxed remaining weeks after a patch of good form with three wins from four league games, including victories against direct rivals Bielefeld and Wolfsburg. More recently, however, they were beaten twice by the narrowest of margins. Both times by a narrow margin. Losing 1-0 in Munich was certainly not a major blow with points against Bayern not to be expected but the defeat last weekend was more bitter with the opponents being Hertha BSC.
However, Augsburg are still four points ahead of the relegation play-off position and have everything in their own hands. Responsibility is shouldered by experienced players like goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz, captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, as well as the old hands Daniel Caligiuri and André Hahn. In attack, a player well known at Bochum has scored the most goals to date. Michael Gregoritsch has returned to form and, after regaining his spot in the starting XI, the tall left-footer currently stands at seven goals. This is important because Alfred Finnbogasson has been struggling with injuries this season and record buy Ricardo Pepi still needs time to adapt.
THE HEAD COACH
Markus Weinzierl has been back at FC Augsburg since 26 April 2021. Back then, the man from Straubing took over from Heiko Herrlich as head coach to save FCA, deep in relegation trouble, from going down to the 2nd Bundesliga. In his first tenure, which lasted from 2012 to 2016, the 47-year-old even led FCA to the Europa League before moving to FC Schalke 04 in the summer of 2016, where he lasted just a year. Before his return to Augsburg, Weinzierl was head coach of VfB Stuttgart between October 2018 and April 2019. FCA president Klaus Hofmann is happy to have Weinzierl back on board: “He’s a first-class coach and a person who fits Augsburg.”
THE RECORD
VfL against FCA – truly not a history marked with a long tradition. The Blue-and-Whites have only met FC Augsburg four times and so far the record speaks for itself. Three times, the boys “vonne Castroper” came out on top, one match was won by the club from Bavaria. Of course, we look back with pleasure at the first match this season, which was spectacular. After a brace from Sebastian Polter and a dream goal by Gerrit Holtmann, the Blue-and-whites went into the break with a 0-3(!) lead away from home. In the second half, the home side pushed forward and reduced the deficit to 3-2, which made for an exciting finish. But in the end, it was our second away win of the season and three enormously important points in our enterprise of staying up in the Bundesliga.
