Augsburg will try to repeat the January result that still stands alone in Bayern Munich’s recent Bundesliga record. Bayern have lost only one league match in the past 18 months: Augsburg’s 2-1 win in Munich. Manuel Baum’s squad has changed sharply since then, but the coach sees another opening.
January result, new personnel
- In January, Augsburg used a back five featuring Cedric Zesiger, Keven Schlotterbeck and scorer Arthur Chaves in central defence. Left wing-back Dimitrios Giannoulis and holding midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj also started.
- All five have since left the club. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen remains from that defensive unit, while Robin Fellhauer is still at Augsburg but has recently operated as a number 10.
- Anton Kade led the line in that match. The 22-year-old has recovered from a muscle-fibre tear, but Baum considers a starting place unlikely despite the player feeling ready.
- Michael Gregoritsch was an unused substitute for the full 90 minutes in January. Baum could again prefer pace, with Rodrigo Ribeiro another forward option. Gregoritsch also offers value when Augsburg defend set pieces, where he can be used as the free player.
Baum does not place much weight on the old result or on statistics. His focus is on preparation. He said a match of this scale is won in the players’ minds from the first training session of the week.
The January plan was to force Bayern into facing their own goal, creating transition moments and counter-attacks. The same principle could apply again: Augsburg want to find space behind Bayern’s defensive line and make their limited attacking opportunities count.
Defensive decision still open
Noahkai Banks’ absence requires a reshuffle at centre-back. Baum has tested two solutions.
- Juma Bah could take Banks’ place on the right of the three-man defence.
- Captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw could move into the middle, allowing Chrislain Matsima to shift from central defence to the right.
Baum has not confirmed his choice. Either way, Augsburg’s defence faces Bayern’s individual quality, led by Michael Olise. Baum accepts that Olise is hard to contain in one-on-one situations with open space, but does not want his side to concentrate on one player alone.
The coach’s message is collective pressure. Augsburg must run aggressively, close down the ball carrier and avoid being overawed by Bayern’s strength. Baum cited combat sports logic: a fighter who thinks only about the opponent’s power has already been beaten.
Home form offers Augsburg a base
Bayern arrive unbeaten in 28 consecutive Bundesliga away matches. Augsburg, however, have lost just one of their last 14 home league games. That defeat was a 5-2 loss to VfB Stuttgart in March.
Augsburg have already scored 11 goals, their best total after four Bundesliga matchdays. Their defensive trend is less encouraging: no goal conceded in the opener, then one, two and three in the following matches, most recently at Werder Bremen.
Their 57.7 per cent tackle-winning rate is the best in the division and gives Baum a measurable platform for the Bayern test. A victory would also take Augsburg to 600 Bundesliga points in club history.
