Augsburg vs FC Cologne – News and Probable Lineups

This Friday night marks another chapter in one of the Bundesliga’s most astounding turnaround stories as Augsburg takes on FC Koln at the WWK Arena in what promises to be an exciting clash.

Die Fuggerstadter have transformed from strong relegation contenders to being one of the most formidable teams in the league, while the Billy Goats are eager to secure points to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

Match overview

Following a disappointing start where they secured only three victories in their first 12 Bundesliga fixtures under the management of Sandro Wagner, Augsburg decided to relieve the former German international of his duties, appointing his former mentor Manuel Baum as his successor.

Originally, the 46-year-old was intended to serve as a temporary coach for just three matches, guiding the club into the winter break, after which a permanent appointment would be made.

However, Baum’s influence on the team has been significant, compelling the club’s leadership to extend his tenure.

Reports from German media suggest that Baum earned the respect of his players by simplifying concepts—a hallmark of an effective educator.

In a display of his coaching ethos, Baum referred to a recent fixture against Bayern Munich as ‘a day to remember,’ a sentiment that evidently struck a chord with the squad as they became the first side this season to defeat the league leaders.

In the 11 matches Baum has managed, only Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, and Stuttgart have accrued more points.

Due to this impressive form, Augsburg has successfully climbed out of the relegation zone and presently occupies a secure mid-table position.

On the other hand, Koln’s head coach Lukas Kwasniok found himself in a difficult situation this week after his contentious response to a serious occurrence during a 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim last weekend.

During that match, a Koln supporter required resuscitation within the stadium but, tragically, did not survive. Out of respect, the home supporters restrained from exhibiting the usual spirited atmosphere characteristic of Bundesliga matches.

Unaware of the circumstances, Kwasniok expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of crowd support. However, after gathering all the facts, he publicly apologized at the beginning of his press briefing on Wednesday.

Koln is now focused on returning to football as they attempt to recover from a disappointing stretch, having won only one of their last five Bundesliga matches.

Kwasniok’s squad managed to secure a draw against Hoffenheim last weekend, ending a streak of losses and highlighting Koln’s potential to score goals.

Currently, the Billy Goats find themselves just five points clear of the relegation zone, as the risk of being pulled into a fierce fight against relegation looms over them amid a mounting injury crisis.

Augsburg Bundesliga form:

D W W L W W

Augsburg form (all competitions):

D W W L W W

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

W L W L L D

FC Koln form (all competitions):

W L W L L D

Team News

While Baum’s positive influence has been substantial, the team’s recent achievements can also be credited to having most of their roster fit for selection.

This Friday, for example, Augsburg will be missing two players due to injuries, with Jeffrey Gouweleeuw dealing with a knee issue and Chrislain Matsima nursing a muscle problem.

The standout player for the hosts is French forward Alexis Claude-Maurice, who boasts seven goal contributions in seven matches, including a couple of assists during the 3-2 win over Wolfsburg last weekend.

In contrast, Koln is facing a challenging injury situation, as several players will be sidelined for Friday’s matchup.

Joel Schmied sustained a muscle injury against Hoffenheim last weekend, and an MRI on Monday confirmed his condition.

Linton Maina is expected to miss the fixture due to illness, while Fynn Schenten is training alone and remains a doubt.

Sebastian Sebulonsen (muscle), Jan Thielmann (muscle), Alessio Castro-Montes (muscle), Timo Hubers (knee), and Luca Kilian (knee) are also unavailable.

Augsburg probable starting XI:

Damen; Banks, Schlotterbeck, Zesiger; Fellhauer, Jakic, Massengo, Giannoulis; Rieder, Claude-Maurice; Ribeiro

FC Koln probable starting XI:

Swabian; Smith, Van den Berg, Ozkacar; Kaminski, Martel, Krauss, Lund; Bulter, Ache, Waldschmidt

Koln is in greater need of points compared to Augsburg, but with injuries piling up and a string of poor performances behind them, obtaining a favorable result in this match will be a formidable task.

We are placing our trust in the home side, who aim to extend their unbeaten streak at home to eight matches.