Our next opponents: Augsburg's Scandinavian nail-biter

Position

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.

PersonNel

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.

Problems

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.

Potential

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.

Prediction

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.