Augsburg will hope to dent RB Leipzig's Champions League ambitions when they host them in the Bundesliga on Friday at WWK Arena in their 22nd league fixture of 2024-25.
The home side are 12th in the table with 27 points and drew 0-0 with Mainz 05 on February 8, whereas Leipzig are fourth with 36 points and occupy the division's final Champions League qualification spot.
Match preview
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Augsburg were arguably fortunate to escape with a point last time out given they created no big chances while facing four against Mainz.
Manager Jess Thorup will be concerned that his side's return of 24 goals in the top flight is the worst amongst the top 12, and they have in fact produced the least xG of any team in the league.
At the other end of the pitch, the Fuggerstadter have only conceded three times in their past six outings, keeping three clean sheets, but their record of 35 goals conceded makes them the joint fourth-worst defensive club in the Bundesliga's top 14.
Augsburg are winless in their last three outings – losing one and drawing two – but it should be noted that they triumphed in their three previous games and their only defeat in their last six was in the DFB-Pokal against Stuttgart on February 4.
Though Thorup's side have been beaten in two of their three most recent home matches, they have won six, drawn two and only lost three of their 10 games at WWK Arena this season.
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Opponents Leipzig defeated St Pauli 2-0 on February 9 in the Bundesliga, and to their credit they managed to hold onto their 2-0 lead despite Willi Orban's dismissal in the 69th minute, limiting St Pauli to just two shots inside the box after the red card.
Die Roten Bullen will hope for a repeat of the reverse fixture against Augsburg given they emerged as 4-0 winners on September 28, with all four goals scored by the 57th minute.
The visitors are only one point above fifth-placed Stuttgart, and just four points separates them from seventh-placed Mainz, who they play in the league at the beginning of March.
Marco Rose has come under pressure for his team's mixed performances this season, and though they have kept two consecutive clean sheets in the Bundesliga, they conceded 14 goals in their previous five.
Leipzig have lost one, won one and been held to a stalemate in three of their past five league matches, but they have only been beaten in two of their last nine top-flight games.
However, Rose will have significant concerns about his team's record on the road considering they have been defeated in seven, drawn two and triumphed in just one of their 10 most recent fixtures away from home.
Team News
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Augsburg may have to compete against Leipzig with a makeshift squad considering numerous stars have been ruled out, including defenders Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, Mads Valentin Pedersen and Robert Gumny.
Since Chrislain Matsima and Keven Schlotterbeck could also be absent from the backline due to illness, perhaps Cedric Zesiger, David Deger and Noahkai Banks will play in a back three.
Striker Mergim Berisha and midfielder Yusuf Kabadayi are not available as a result of injury, and their absences could mean Arne Maier and Frank Onyeka start in a double pivot behind Samuel Essende.
As for the visitors, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Lutsharel Geertruida and Castello Lukeba could be fielded in a back three considering Orban is suspended, as well as the fact Benjamin Henrichs will miss the rest of the season.
Leipzig may select a midfield two consisting of Amadou Haidara and Kevin Kampl considering Forzan Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager are not likely to be in the XI because of fitness issues.
Elsewhere, while striker Yussuf Poulsen has been ruled out until early March, regular forwards Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda are both fit.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Zesiger, Deger, Banks; Wolf, Maier, Onyeka, Giannoulis; Jensen, Claude-Maurice; Essende
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Geertruida, Bitshiabu, Castello; Baku, Haidara, Kampl, Raum; Xavi; Sesko, Openda
We say: Augsburg 1-1 RB Leipzig
Although the visitors have been somewhat better defensively in recent weeks, the hosts will feel they can earn a positive result given their opponents have been poor away from home.
Augsburg have also proven difficult to beat in their past several games, but they are unlikely to create many chances in the final third, and it is imperative that they limit Leipzig's threat if they are to take points on Friday.
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Lewis Nolan
