The hoped-for change of fortune remains elusive. Last weekend's Swabian duel saw FC Augsburg lose 1-0 away to VfB Stuttgart in a six-pointer at the wrong end of the table. The defeat at Stuttgart, up to then bottom of the table, marked the third game in succession where FCA left the pitch empty-handed. “It was a really bitter defeat for us,” said coach Manuel Baum after the match as he knows all too well: His team has slipped from mid-table back into a relegation battle due to the recent results and FCA are now fourteenth in the Bundesliga. This position would see FC Augsburg achieve their target of avoiding the drop at the end of the season but a continuation of the run of defeats would certainly have a negative effect on the festive period.
The race against time has not gone well recently. First, Alfred Finnbogason (pictured above on the left next to Michael Gregoritsch) was due to return for the game in Stuttgart but the Icelander did not make it onto the FCA team sheet. Given the problems in converting chances, Augsburg are hoping even more that the striker will be back in the squad for the Werkself game and possibly make the starting line-up. However, it is touch and go with the Icelander as Finnbogason has suffered setbacks in the past with minor injuries. It was not the first time his announced comeback at the weekend had been delayed and the striker has only played six out of a possible thirteen games this term. At the same time, his goals return has been more than impressive: The 29-year-old has found the back of the net seven times with an average of one goal every 69 minutes Finnbogason only failed to score in one of his six appearances. In short: The Icelander is the personification of a goal threat and hard to replace in the Augsburg attack. One positive for FCA: With the exception of Finnbogason, head coach Baum has all his squad available with the spine of defensive stalwarts Martin Hinteregger and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, left back Philipp Max, captain Daniel Baier and the forwards Michael Gregoritsch and Caiuby in place and that should remain the same against the Werkself.
With the impressive technique of Ja-Cheol Koo, the dynamic Gregoritsch and Caiuby and the dangerous crosses from Max, Augsburg have sufficient fire power to be able to create chances. The only element missing is the finisher – definitely as long as Finnbogason is watching from the stands. Augsburg were not clearly outclassed in any of the recent defeats but their was a lack of clinical finishing – Finnbogason’s greatest quality. The Austrian Gregoritsch, with an impressive thirteen goals last season, has lacked luck and accuracy this season. The 24-year-old has only scored twice in the Bundesliga and otherwise there is a lack of alternatives to replace the Iceland striker. And bringing in new signing Julian Schieber as the central striker has not brought the required penetration in attack.
FC Augsburg have continued to make a name for themselves in the Bundesliga in a quiet manner. Since first being promoted to Germany’s top flight in 2011, FCA have remained in the first division and they are now in their eighth season. Augsburg have established a decent financial position that means they do not need to sell top players like Max, Gregoritsch and Finnbogason when they make the breakthrough at Augsburg as in the past with Abdul Rahman Baba or the now returned André Hahn. As the next step, Baum, previously youth coach at FCA, wants to bring through homegrown players from the youth set-up into the first team squad. First successes: The two defenders Kevin Danso and Raphael Framberger are not yet regular starters but have appeared regularly.
The most recent results appear to put FCA in a worse light than the performances have merited. Augsburg still have enough quality to stay up and, in the best case scenario, not have to worry up to end of the season with a finish between positions 11 and 14. It could be tight if more key players like Baier, Gregoritsch and Finnbogason are sidelined for long periods. However, in the case of the Icelander the hope is that the bad luck with injuries is over for the season.
There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
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Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 Women clcoked up a 3-2 win in a friendly against Twente Enschede on Thursday afternoon in the last international break of 2025. In drizzle, Lilla Turanyi (16’), Kristin Kögel (65’) and Paulina Bartz (69’) scored the goals for the Werkself against the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen leaders, who are still unbeaten in the league.
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